space exploration NASA Michael Collins Apollo 11 Volkswagen Beetle loneliness in space astronauts moon landing space history Neil Armstrong Buzz Aldrin

The Iconic Photo That Captured a Moment in Space History

On July 21, 1969, astronaut Michael Collins aimed his Hasselblad film camera out of the spacecraft Columbia’s window. The resulting photograph became one of the most iconic images of space exploration, featuring the Eagle lunar lander against the moon’s surface and Earth rising above it.

His photo encapsulated all of humanity—past, present, and future—except for one man: Collins himself. While his crewmates, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, made history on the lunar surface, Collins orbited alone, earning the nickname “the loneliest man in the universe.”

The Silence of the Dark Side of the Moon

When the command module Columbia disappeared behind the moon, Collins lost all radio contact with both the Eagle lander and Houston ground control. For half an orbit, he was entirely alone, cut off from the world. This meant he missed Armstrong’s historic transmission, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” sitting in silence on the dark side of the moon.

Yet Collins was not lonely. Instead, he felt euphoric—a pioneer at the edge of the technologically possible. With no companions aboard, he had the command module all to himself, describing it as “quite commodious.”

Collins’ Reflection on His Unique Experience

“I had this beautiful little domain. It was all mine. I was the emperor, the captain of it, and it was quite commodious. I had warm coffee, even.”

— Michael Collins, The New York Times, 2019

Collins’ coffee, however, was far from gourmet. In his memoir, Carrying the Fire, he admitted it was “lousy coffee, but at least it’s lukewarm and familiar and reminds me vaguely of Earth mornings.”

The Volkswagen Beetle: Collins’ Pre-Launch Ritual

A week before the Apollo 11 launch, a photographer captured Collins sardonically staring down the barrel of the lens as he arrived for work. In his hands, he clutched a mug of proper Earth-grade coffee. The background? A Volkswagen Beetle.

Collins shared the photo on his Facebook page seven years ago with the caption: “One week before launch. Coffee was mandatory. My faithful VW Beetle in the background.”

Collins’ Contrast to His Corvette-Driving Crewmates

While Collins’ fellow astronauts, Armstrong and Aldrin, were often associated with high-performance cars like Corvettes, Collins stood out with his Volkswagen Beetle. Armstrong arrived at the pre-launch in July 1969 in a Marina Blue Sting Ray coupe, and Aldrin was known for his love of sports cars.

Stories from the era, such as Gus Grissom tweaking the gearing on his ’67 427 Sting Ray to outpace Alan Shepard, highlight the competitive spirit among astronauts. Yet Collins’ choice of a Volkswagen Beetle suggested a different temperament—one that embraced simplicity and solitude over speed and spectacle.

Was Collins the Cool-Headed Counterpart to His Crewmates?

The contrast between Collins and his crewmates raises questions: Were Armstrong and Aldrin the hot-doggers, while Collins remained the cool-headed thinker? His memoir and reflections suggest a man who found contentment in solitude, even in the vast emptiness of space.

Source: Hagerty
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