Chosen by NASA in 1963, his first spaceflight was aboard Gemini 10 with John Young in 1966; he flew again on Apollo 11 in 1969, the first moon landing mission with crew mates Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Collins orbited the moon in the Command Module Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin went to the surface in the Lunar Module Eagle. Collins graduated from West Point, was a test pilot at Edwards AFB, became an Assistant Secretary of State, was the director of the National Air and Space Museum (the most visited museum in the world) and attended Harvard Business School. He has written four books including the critically acclaimed Carrying the Fire. TLS, one page, 7 x 9, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution letterhead, May 14, 1975. In full: 'Dear David, thank you for your kind letter of May 9. I definitely believe intelligent life exists on other planets, but I do not believe that it has yet reached earth. Therefore, I don't believe in UFOs in the conventional sense; that is, I don't think we are being visited by others.' In fine condition. RRAuction COA.
