[yarg]

I feel bad for Collins, at best he got the "also participated" award in the public mindshare - and this despite that fact he was left more alone than any man in history, locked about the dark side of the moon, wondering if he was going home alone.

[dorkwood]

> despite that fact he was left more alone than any man in history, locked about the dark side of the moon, wondering if he was going home alone

He actually didn't mind being on the dark side of the moon.

"'I was not lonely,' Collins said at an Explorer's Club event in New York City earlier this year, 'I had a happy little home in the command module. Behind the moon it was very peaceful — no one in Mission Control is yakkin' at me and wanting me to do this, that, and the other. So I was very happy, it was a happy home.'" [0]

https://www.space.com/michael-collins-remembers-apollo-11-mo...

[_fizz_buzz_]

True, on the other hand, he was part of the most exciting missions in human history. But being on the dark side of the moon all alone must have felt really spooky.

I feel worse for the astronauts that were supposed to go on the cancelled apollo missions that must have been such a big disappointment.

[anyfoo]

Yeah, I don't know... at the same time he was well in the "first crew on the moon" club, without just as much of the constant, unwavering, overwhelming attention that Neil Armstrong must have gotten.

[dokem]

It's hard to imagine that bitter-sweetness he must've felt. At the same time, how could he ever complain. Maybe he took no issue, but I'm sure everyone in the program was hoping to be the first man.

[yarg]

I can't imagine that he took issue; these guys generally seemed to put the mission before the self.

[lmm]

I forget the exact wording in his autobiography but it was something like "I can't pretend I'm crazy enough to prefer being in my seat to the other two's. But I've got my own part to play."

[dokem]

They are also cut-throat competitive, ego maniacs. Just incredibly professional. I don't think you get to where those guys are without an incredibly appetite for success.

[Breza]

That's the central thesis of The Right Stuff. Collins was bumped from Apollo 8 and didn't feel that bad about bumping someone else from Apollo 11 as a result.