Apollo 11’s ‘Forgotten Astronaut’ Reveals the One Thing He Realized After Landing on the Moon

The often-overlooked third Apollo 11 astronaut shared what he realized after the incredible mission.

When we think of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, most of us will remember the names Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

The first two people to walk on the moon became living legends in human history as they experienced the lowest gravity and collected samples.

But while Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon, there was another astronaut who went there, but didn’t walk on the surface.

This was Michael Collins, who piloted the command module while Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Moon.

For 48 minutes, Collins would become the most isolated human in the universe as the command module passed behind the Moon.

A quote about this said that no human felt such isolation “since Adam”, but for his part Collins said that he had not felt alone.

On the contrary, Collins said he had felt “awareness, anticipation, satisfaction, confidence, almost exultation.”

And in an interview on YouTube with 60 Minutes Australia, Collins recalled what he took away from his experience in space.

The three astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission (Space Frontiers/Getty Images)

He said: “The food was terrible, but I enjoyed my time behind the Moon. It’s a rough place and not very comfortable.”

And there was a great realization that he shared from his time in space.

He said: “Being so close to the Moon was very impressive in many ways, but the Moon is nothing compared to our home planet.”

Collins added: “It was center stage. Every little thing, the blue of the ocean, the white of the clouds, little streaks of tan we call ‘continents.’

“It’s about the size of your thumbnail if you’re holding it in front of you.”

Collins orbited the Moon alone, locating the lunar module on the surface and maintaining communication with Earth.

Collins during training exercises in the command module (Bettmann/Contributor/Getty)

Although he may not have been in the spotlight as much as the moonwalkers, Collins always reiterated that his role had been essential to the success of the mission: someone had to stay behind and await the return of the others.

Speaking of the Apollo 11 mission, he said: “This enterprise has been structured for three men, and I consider my third as necessary as either of the other two.”

Collins had also shared that he had been very concerned about the safety of Armstrong and Aldrin, worrying that if they died he would have to return to Earth alone and be a “marked man”.

Fortunately, the mission was a resounding success and the three returned together.

Collins left his mark inside the command module, writing: “Spacecraft 107 – aka Apollo 11 – aka colombia. The best boat to get off the line. God bless her. Michael Collins, CMP.”