Mike Collins was the only crew member of Apollo 11 who would not land on the Moon, since his role as command module pilot required him to stay aboard Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin took Eagle to the surface.

He told reporters "I’m going 99.9% of the way there, and that suits me fine,” and that he was not the “slightest bit frustrated” by his role, though he may have been frustrated with the continual questions about his feelings. Like John Young on the Apollo 10 lunar landing dress rehearsal mission, Collins would experience the privilege of solo flight around the Moon. He later wrote Carrying the Fire about his experience.

Mike Collins was the only crew member of Apollo 11 who would not land on the Moon, since his role as command module pilot required him to stay aboard Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin took Eagle to the surface.

He told reporters "I’m going 99.9% of the way there, and that suits me fine,” and that he was not the “slightest bit frustrated” by his role, though he may have been frustrated with the continual questions about his feelings. Like John Young on the Apollo 10 lunar landing dress rehearsal mission, Collins would experience the privilege of solo flight around the Moon. He later wrote Carrying the Fire about his experience.