Michael Collins
Michael Collins One of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1963, Michael Collins was the son of a US Army Major General. He was born in Rome, Italy because his father spent much of his army career in different places around the world. Education and Air Force Career After a childhood moving around the world with his father’s work including Oklahoma, New York and Puerto Rico, Michael Collins’ family settled in Washington D.C. when the Second World War began. He graduated from St. Albans School in 1948 and followed his Did You Know? father, uncles and brother into the military. He Michael Collins has spent completed a degree at the US Military Academy around 5000 hours flying. at West Point in 1952 and chose to join the US Air Force (USAF). He was excited by the future of air travel at that time and trained as a fighter pilot. On one occasion in 1956, he had to eject from his F-86 jet because of a fire behind the cockpit. Eventually, he gained the 1500 hours required to enter USAF Test Pilot School in 1960. Two years later, the school became an Aerospace Research School and Collins completed a new course on spaceflight.
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NASA Collins applied to become an astronaut in 1962 after following John Glenn’s first successful orbit of the earth that year. He was unsuccessful but reapplied the following year and was accepted as one of the third group of NASA astronauts along with Buzz Aldrin. He spent 240 hours training and worked on the ground before becoming the backup pilot for Gemini 7. Despite health problems which required surgery on his back in 1968, he was announced as one of the three man crew of Apollo 11 along with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Whilst Armstrong and Aldrin took their Did You Know? famous first steps on the moon, Collins stayed in Michael Collins is often called the command module as pilot. He spent a whole the ‘forgotten astronaut’ day orbiting the moon alone and is reported to as people only remember have enjoyed being by himself. Armstrong and Aldrin. Life after Apollo 11 Straight after returning to earth, the crew toured the world for 45 days on a “Giant Leap” tour. He retired from NASA in 1970 and became director of the National Air and Space Museum. He completed a management course at Harvard Business School and in 1985, established his own consulting company, Michael Collins Associates.
Did You Know? Michael Collins has had at least three songs written about his role in the moon landings.
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1. Why was Michael Collins born in Rome?
His mother was Italian......
His parents were on holiday there......
His father was working there at the time ......
The family doctor was from Rome......
2. Who else in Michael Collins’ family had a military career?
3. What caused Michael Collins to have to eject from his jet in 1956?
A fire behind the cockpit......
An engine failure......
A near miss with another jet......
A broken wing ......
4. How many hours did Michael Collins spend flying during his career with USAF and NASA?
5. Who and what inspired Michael Collins to apply to NASA?
Neil Armstong setting foot on the moon......
John Glenn orbiting the earth......
Buzz Aldrin completing a spacewalk......
His father’s military career ......
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6. What was Michael Collins’ role in the Apollo 11 mission?
7. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’?
8. What did he do along with Armstrong and Aldrin straight after the moon landings?
Study a management course......
Establish his own company......
Retire from NASA......
Go on the ‘Great Leap’ tour around the world......
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1. Why was Michael Collins born in Rome? His father was working there at the time
2. Who else in Michael Collins’ family had a military career? His father, uncles and brother.
3. What caused Michael Collins to have to eject from his jet in 1956? A fire behind the cockpit
4. How many hours did Michael Collins spend flying during his career with USAF and NASA? Around 5,000 hours.
5. Who and what inspired Michael Collins to apply to NASA? John Glenn orbiting the earth
6. What was Michael Collins’ role in the Apollo 11 mission? He was the command module pilot and stayed on board the spacecraft Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon.
7. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’? Because people remember the names of the two astronauts who actually walked on the moon but forget that he was still aboard the spacecraft.
8. What did he do along with Armstrong and Aldrin straight after the moon landings? Go on the ‘Great Leap’ tour around the world
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The son of a US Army Major General who spent much of his army career in different places around the world, Michael Collins was born in Rome, Italy in 1930. In 1963, after applying for the second time, he became one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA. Did you know he was on the crew of Apollo 11 with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin? Education and Air Force Career Due to his father’s military career, Michael Collins’ childhood was spent all over the world including Oklahoma, New York and Puerto Rico. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the family settled in Washington D.C. where Michael attended St. Albans Did You Know? School, graduating in 1948. Although his mother Michael Collins logged wanted him to become a diplomat, he instead chose around 5000 hours to follow his father, uncles and brother and pursue flying time during a military career. He completed a degree at the US his career with USAF Military Academy at West Point in 1952 and the and NASA. This is over 200 exciting developments in aeronautics at the time full days! influenced his decision to join the US Air Force (USAF) rather than the army as the other men in his family had. Following training as a fighter pilot in Nevada he was working on a NATO exercise in France in 1956 when he was forced to eject from his F-86 jet because of a fire behind the cockpit. Eventually, he gained the 1500 hours required to enter USAF Test Pilot School in 1960. Two years later, the school became an Aerospace Research School and Collins completed a new course on spaceflight. As part of the course, he flew to 90,000 feet in F-104 Starfighter jets during which he experienced periods of weightlessness.
Did You Know? Michael Collins has had at least three songs written about his role in the moon landings and has a crater on the moon named after him.
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NASA Collins followed John Glenn’s first orbit of the earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962 and subsequently applied to join NASA. He went through interviews and tests but was ultimately unsuccessful. Although he didn’t expect to be accepted, he was nonetheless disappointed and the following year he reapplied. At the second attempt, he was admitted to NASA as one of the third group of astronauts along with Buzz Aldrin, who would later join him aboard Apollo 11. He spent 240 hours training and worked on the ground before becoming the backup pilot for Gemini 7. Did You Know? Despite health problems which required surgery Michael Collins is often called on his back in 1968, he was announced as one of the ‘forgotten astronaut’ the three man crew of Apollo 11 along with Neil as people only remember Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Whilst Armstrong Armstrong and Aldrin. In fact, and Aldrin took their famous first steps on the his role was key to the whole moon, Collins stayed in the command module, mission as he was solely Columbia, as pilot. He spent a whole day orbiting responsible for keeping the the moon alone and is reported to have enjoyed shuttle in orbit and ready to the time alone. He later discussed the relief he felt return to earth. when his fellow astronauts sent a message saying the lunar module had successfully taken off from the moon’s surface.
Life after Apollo 11 Straight after returning to earth and being released from 18 days in quarantine, the three man crew toured the world for 45 days on a “Giant Leap” tour, taking its name from the words uttered by Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon’s surface. Michael Collins retired from NASA in 1970 becoming director of the National Air and Space Museum and later undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He completed a management course at Harvard Business School and worked for an Aerospace company before establishing his own consulting company, Michael Collins Associates in 1985.
Page 1 of 1 visit twinkl.com Questions Michael Collins 1. Why was Michael Collins born in Rome?
2. Where and when did the Collins family eventually settle?
3. Why did he choose to join the US Air Force after graduating from the US Military Academy?
To follow in his father’s footsteps......
Because he had never been in an aeroplane......
To overcome a fear of flying......
Because of the exciting developments in aeronautics at the time......
4. What did he experience when flying a Starfighter jet which would prepare him for space travel?
5. How many hours did Michael Collins spend flying during his career with USAF and NASA?
6. Who and what inspired Michael Collins to apply to NASA?
Neil Armstong setting foot on the moon......
John Glenn orbiting the earth......
Buzz Aldrin completing a spacewalk......
His father’s military career......
Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com Questions Michael Collins 7. How many astronauts were on board the Apollo 11 mission?
8. What did Michael Collins do immediately after returning to earth?
Spend 18 days in quarantine......
Retire from NASA......
Become director of the National Air and Space Museum......
Establish his own consulting company ......
9. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’?
10. Link the statements to ‘true’ or ‘false’. If a statement is false, write the correct statement.
Michael Collins was the first person to walk on the moon......
At least three songs have been written about Michael Collins......
Michael Collins has a crater on Mars named after him......
Michael Collins was once forced to eject from a jet because of a fire behind the cockpit......
After the moon landings, Michael Collins went on the ‘Giant Leap’ tour alone...... Corrected statements:
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1. Why was Michael Collins born in Rome? His father was working there at the time.
2. Where and when did the Collins family eventually settle? In Washington D.C. when World War II broke out.
3. Why dd he choose to join the US Air Force after graduating from the US Military Academy? Because of the exciting developments in aeronautics at the time.
4. What did he experience when flying a Starfighter jet which would prepare him for space travel? Weightlessness.
5. How many hours did Michael Collins spend flying during his career with USAF and NASA? Around 5,000 hours.
6. Who and what inspired Michael Collins to apply to NASA? John Glenn orbiting the earth.
7. How many astronauts were on board the Apollo 11 mission? Three.
8. What did Michael Collins do immediately after returning to earth? Spend 18 days in quarantine.
9. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’? Because people remember the names of the two astronauts who actually walked on the moon but forget that he was still aboard the spacecraft.
10. Link the statements to ‘true’ or ‘false’. If a statement is false, write the correct statement.
Answer – true: At least three songs have been written about Michael Collins, Michael Collins was once forced to eject from a jet because of a fire behind the cockpit.
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Born in Rome, Italy as the son of a US army Major General who spent much of his army career in different places around the world, Michael Collins would go on to play an important role in twentieth century space travel. In 1963, after a second application to NASA, he became one of the third group of astronauts. Did you know he was the command module pilot on the Apollo 11 moon landings mission with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin? Education and Air Force Career Due to his father’s military career, Michael Collins’ childhood was spent all over the world including Did You Know? Oklahoma, New York and Puerto Rico. Following the Did You Know? Michael outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the family Collins logged around settled in Washington D.C. where Michael attended St. 5000 hours flying time Albans School, graduating in 1948. Ignoring his mother’s during his career with wishes for him to join the diplomatic service, he instead USAF and NASA. This is chose to follow his father, uncles, brother and cousin over 200 full days! and pursue a military career. He completed a degree free from tuition fees at the US Military Academy at West Point in 1952 in the same class as another astronaut, Ed White. The exciting and rapid developments in aeronautics around that time influenced his decision to join the US Air Force (USAF) rather than the army as the other men in his family had. Having completed training as a fighter pilot in Nevada, he was working on a NATO exercise in France in 1956 when he was forced to eject from his F-86 jet because of a fire behind the cockpit. Thanks to time spent as a training mechanic on new aircraft, he soon gained the minimum 1500 hours required to enter USAF Test Pilot School in 1960. Only two years later, the school became the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School and Collins undertook a new course on spaceflight which was offered. As part of the course, he flew to 90,000 feet in F-104 Starfighter jets during which he first experienced periods of weightlessness.
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NASA
Collins followed John Glenn’s first orbit of the earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962 with interest and cites this as his inspiration to apply to join NASA. He went through extensive interviews, medicals and psychiatric tests but was ultimately unsuccessful. Although he didn’t expect to be accepted, he was nonetheless disappointed and the following year he reapplied. At the second attempt, he was admitted to NASA as one of the third group of astronauts along with Buzz Aldrin, who would later join him aboard Did You Know? Apollo 11. He spent 240 hours training and specialising Had the mission been in spacesuits and spacewalks before receiving his first unsuccessful, he feared crew assignment as backup pilot for Gemini 7. In spite his name would become of medical problems which required spinal surgery notorious as the only in 1968, he was announced as one of the three man survivor. In reality, crew of Apollo 11 along with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins is often Buzz Aldrin. Whilst Armstrong and Aldrin took their called the ‘forgotten famous first steps on the moon, Collins stayed in the astronaut’ as people only command module, Columbia, as pilot. He spent a whole remember Armstrong day orbiting the moon alone and is reported to have and Aldrin. enjoyed the time alone despite his concerns for the safe return of his fellow astronauts. Everyone involved in the mission understood the huge risks involved and Collins later spoke of his relief as he received a message from Armstrong and Aldrin that the lunar module had successfully taken off from the moon’s surface.
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Life after Apollo 11 Straight after returning to earth, the three man crew spent 18 days in quarantine, before touring the world for 45 days on a “Giant Leap” tour, which took its name from the words uttered by Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon’s surface. Michael Collins retired from NASA in 1970 and took up the role of director at the National Air and Space Museum and was later involved in the running of the Smithsonian Institution (the world’s largest museum). He completed a management course at Harvard Business School and worked for an Aerospace company before establishing his own aerospace consulting company, Michael Collins Associates in 1985.
Did You Know? Michael Collins has had at least three songs written about his role in the moon landings, has a crater on the moon named after him and received a Congressional Gold Medal for Distinguished Astronauts in 2011.
Page 3 of 3 visit twinkl.com Questions Michael Collins 1. Name two places Michael Collins lived during his childhood.
2. What does this tell us about how his mother felt about his choice of career?
‘Ignoring his mother’s wishes for him to join the diplomatic service …’
3. Why did he choose to join the US Air Force after graduating from the US Military Academy?
4. What happened while he was on a NATO exercise in 1956 and what caused it?
5. What did he experience when flying a Starfighter jet which would prepare him for space travel?
6. Who and what inspired Michael Collins to apply to NASA?
Neil Armstong setting foot on the moon......
John Glenn orbiting the earth......
Buzz Aldrin completing a spacewalk......
His father’s military career......
Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com Questions Michael Collins 7. What was Michael Collins’ role in the Apollo 11 mission?
8. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’?
9. Tick the correct box related to each statement in the table:
True False
Michael Collins logged around 5000 flying hours during his career.
In 1985, he established his own consultancy company.
He was accepted by NASA the third time he applied.
He retired from NASA in 1969.
After the moon landings, he went on the ‘Giant Leap’ tour alone.
10. Name two ways he has been honoured for his role in the Apollo 11 mission.
1.
2.
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1. Name two places Michael Collins lived during his childhood. Any two of: Rome, Oklahoma, New York, Puerto Rico or Washington D.C.
2. What does this tell us about how his mother felt about his choice of career?
‘Ignoring his mother’s wishes for him to join the diplomatic service …’
She would have preferred for him to have done something away from the military.
3. Why did he choose to join the US Air Force after graduating from the US Military Academy? Because of the exciting developments in aeronautics at the time.
4. What happened while he was on a NATO exercise in 1956 and what caused it? He had to eject from his jet because of a fire behind the cockpit.
5. What did he experience when flying a Starfighter jet which would prepare him for space travel? Weightlessness.
6. What was Michael Collins’ role in the Apollo 11 mission? He was the pilot of the command module Columbia.
7. Michael Collins showed great resilience during his career. Do you agree? Explain your answer using examples from the text. Answers might include – He didn’t give up after having a life threatening accident as a fighter pilot. He reapplied to NASA after failing to get in the first time he tried. He logged over 200 full days flying time. He had spinal surgery in 1968 but refused to let this stop him from being part of the Apollo 11 crew.
8. Why is Michael Collins often called the ‘Forgotten Astronaut’? Because people remember the names of the two astronauts who actually walked on the moon but forget that he was still aboard the spacecraft.
Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com Answers Michael Collins 9. Tick the correct box related to each statement in the table:
True False
Michael Collins logged around 5000 flying hours during his career.
In 1985, he established his own consultancy company.
He was accepted by NASA the third time he applied.
He retired from NASA in 1969.
After the moon landings, he went on the ‘Giant Leap’ tour alone.
Corrected statements: He was accepted by NASA the third time he applied, He retired from NASA in 1970, After the moon landings, he went on the ‘Giant Leap’ tour with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
10. Name two ways he has been honoured for his role in the Apollo 11 mission. Any two of: he has had at least three songs written about him, he has a crater on the moon named after him, he received the Congressional Gold Medal for Distinguished Astronauts in 2011.
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