They Shot for the Moon

Collins was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963.  He served as pilot on the 3-day Gemini X mission, launched July 18, 1966, during which he set a world altitude record and became the nation's third spacewalker, completing two extravehicular activities (EVAs).

His second flight was as command module pilot of the historic Apollo XI mission in July 1969.  He remained in lunar orbit while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the Moon.

Collins has completed two space flights, logging 266 hours in space, of which 1 hour and 27 minutes were spent in EVA.

Upon leaving NASA in January 1970, Collins became Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

In April 1971, Collins joined the Smithsonian Institution as Director of the National Air and Space Museum, where he remained for 7 years.  He was responsible for planning and construction of the new museum building, which opened to the public in July 1976, a few days ahead of schedule and below its budgeted cost.  In April 1978, Collins became Undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1980, Collins became Vice President of the LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, resigning in 1985 to start his own firm.  He is author of CARRYING THE FIRE (1974), which describes his experience in the space program.  He followed it with FLYING TO THE MOON AND OTHER STRANGE PLACES (1976), a book about space for younger readers.  In 1988 he wrote LIFTOFF: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S ADVENTURE IN SPACE.

From NASA web site.