Apollo 11’ s Collins returns to launch pad 50 years after historic mission to the moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins returned Tuesday to the exact spot where he flew to the moon 50 years ago with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
Mr. Collins had the spotlight to himself this time — Mr. Armstrong died seven years ago, and Mr. Aldrin canceled. Mr. Collins said he wished his two moonwalking colleagues could have shared the moment at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, the departure point for humanity’s first moon landing.
“Wonderful feeling to be back,” the 88- year- old command module pilot said. “There’s a difference this time. I want to turn and ask Neil a question, and maybe tell Buzz Aldrin something — and of course, I’m here by myself.”
At NASA’s invitation, Mr. Collins marked the precise moment — 9: 32 a. m. on July 16, 1969 — that the Saturn V rocket blasted off. He was seated at the base of the pad alongside Kennedy’s director, Robert Cabana.
Mr. Collins recalled the tension of that day.
“Apollo 11 ... was serious business. We, crew, felt the weight of the world on our shoulders. We knew that everyone would be looking at us, friend or foe, and we wanted to do the best we possibly could,” he said.
Mr. Collins remained in lunar orbit, tending to Columbia, the mother ship, while Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Aldrin landed in the Eagle on July 20, 1969, and spent 2 ½ hours on the moon
A reunion Tuesday at the Kennedy firing room by past and present launch controllers — and Mr. Collins’ return to the pad, now leased to SpaceX — kicked off a week of celebrations marking each day of Apollo 11’ s eight- day voyage.
NASA showed original launch video of Apollo 11, timed down to the second. Then Mr. Cabana turned his conversation with Mr. Collins to NASA’s next moonshot program, Artemis, which seeks to put the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024.