Apollo 11: What It Takes to Boldly Go

World Science Festival celebrates the historic life of astronaut Michael Collins who died on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at the age of 90. Breaking boundaries was Collins' legacy, piloting the Apollo 11 spacecraft Columbia to bring Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to take the first steps on the moon. In this 2019 Festival appearance, listen in as Michael Collins and his fellow astronauts discussing the future of space travel.

Fifty years ago, as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin bounced on the moon’s surface below, Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins briefly disappeared behind the lunar disk, becoming the first person to experience space entirely alone. As we set our sights on the stars, space travelers will need to cope with ever longer stretches—months, years, and beyond—in the lonely environs of the cosmos. What will that take? What will that be like? How will it affect who we are? Join Michael Collins and fellow astronauts for a whirlwind journey boldly going where only a handful of humans have gone before.

PARTICIPANTS: Michael Collins, Leland Melvin, Scott Kelly, and Ariane Cornell

MODERATOR: Miles O’Brien

MORE INFO ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND

This program is part of the BIG IDEAS SERIES, made possible with support from the JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION.

- SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel and "ring the bell" for all the latest videos from WSF

TOPICS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:40 - Michael Collins introduction
3:49 - Remembering Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11
6:23 - Lunar module descent to the Moon and return
9:22 - Implications of equipment failure/getting stuck on the Moon
10:20 - Changing diversity of NASA astronaut class
12:58 - Astronaut survival training
14:25 - Gemini 10 spacewalk
16:34 - Apollo 11 simulations/preparation
20:08 - Looking back at Earth from the Moon
24:04 - Putting humans on Mars
25:55 - Apollo 8 trans-lunar injection announcement
29:04 - Shuttle era film
29:52 - Additional participant introductions
31:33 - Living and working in space
33:11 - The vaiue of setting a destination in space
34:15 - Michael Collins’ relationship with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
35:21 - The future of commercial of space travel
37:17 - Should everyone be able to go to space?
38:49 - Leland Melvin’s “aha” moment in space
41:40 - Mission profiles for civilian space flight
42:30 - Effects of long-duration space travel
48:48 - The value of inspiring young people
51:21 - Blue Origin test launch footage
53:40 - Blue Moon lunar lander
55:35 - Pros and cons of private contractors
59:50 - How would space travel affect the public’s worldview?
1:01:23 - The overview effect
1:06:14 - Michael Collins’ concerns about world population growth
1:09:17 - How important is space exploration?
1:15:50 - Where will we be in space 50 years from now?

PROGRAM CREDITS:
- Produced by Jonathan Schienberg
- Associate Produced by Matt Carlstrom
- Music provided by APM
- Additional images and footage provided by NASA and Blue Origin
- Recorded at NYU Skirball Center

[mitchkahle]

"Leland Melvin’s “aha” moment in space" is one of the most beautiful and inspiring statements ever made. Thank you, Sir.

[robyost]

"Armstrong and Aldrin. Not only were they near the top of the alphabet, but they were highly thought of within our tight little astronaut group. Smart as hell, both of them, competent and experienced, each in his own way. Neil was far and away the most experienced test pilot among the astronauts, and Buzz the most learned, especially when it came to rendezvous. But that didn't mean that Neil was all pragmatist or Buzz all theoretician.... As a pair, they brought a formidable array of talent with them, as they approached the problems of landing Apollo 11 safely on the moon. I considered myself damned fortunate to be joining them." [Michael Collins, Carrying the Fire (1974), p. 314]

[simonwilson]

Read his book, Carrying the Fire, if you have not already read it. God Bless Mike and the Apollo Astronauts, they inspired my youth!

[pererau]

This was great, except for the one guest with no experience, who was just an advertisement for a single company, and who refused to acknowledge anything other than her company. This really brought the whole discussion down. Please, from now on, if you bring in someone that represents a company, let them know that science is not about a company, but about humanity, and the discussion needs to not be limited by petty commercial interests.

[hvbris_]

I love Michael Collins’ sense of humor

[carmeninca]

I was at this event with my son, what a great moment! Really enjoyed seeing them live.

[MohammadAsadullaShareef]

After Collins spoke about world population growth at 01:09:00, I was expecting the BlueOrigin sales woman to say, "that's why we are sending people away from the earth. And if they don't come back, good for the population!"

[jaimitoelpoderoso]

Very satisfying to watch and really interesting to hear every word they had to say ....fifty years ago, today, and fifty years from now!

[Olga-jmxf]

Population will balance out in a few years as my previous generation and mine continue exiting this planet. It is time for these beautiful and inspiring new generations to advance and Earth, and the human race, to infinity and beyond, yes! Inspiring conversations from these gentlemen. I am grateful.

[FlockOfHawks]

i keep seeing echoes of Alan Alda in Mr Collins's face & gestures

23:15 the Fragility of our Precious Little Spaceship - governments, companies & masses should learn these words by heart & start to live up to them, gawdangit !

1:19:35 Glorious Speech to the Young 🙏

[brandish_]

I find this really inspiring and can't wait to see what the future has in stall for us all

[roner]

And now, in 2019, there a group of boneheads saying the Earth is flat.

[baganatube]

One minute we were talking about the USSR congratulating their ENEMY for their achievement and all of a sudden you can't even mention the name of a commercial competitor of your guest that is much more influential and inspirational than your guest? 35:50

[SueLevine]

I really enjoyed all of the questions and answers! Leland, I love how your responses revolve around relationship building and making the world a more understanding and connected place!!

[TomOostenrijk]

Collins is a cutie. He seems so goddamn nice. Together with Bean and Duke. They just seemed kidlike in their wonder. The likes of Grissom, Cernan, and young were majorly focused badasses.

[pennyhutchinson]

Thank you - all responsible for treating me to a trip back in time in America when the news featured the truly strong men of heroic deeds of daring-do, who explained it all with superb vocabularies wherein the word "I" never made an uncomfortable appearance. The timing of the Apollo 11 anniversary is particularly fortunate, because we are in desperate need of something to help us rekindle our love for the country we once were...a people unafraid of doing "the hard things, " a people that believed in that 'lamp beside the golden door, " a people of great human accomplishment, great compassion for our fellow man, proud of our country's motto (E Pluribus Unum), proud of striving to live lives in harmony with our values...and proud -most of all - to be the most decent -and once the most respected - land on planet Earth. May we all live to see that America... a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere...once again.

[stellyou]

Great Discussion, but the Saleswomen was wrong in the place.

[zeusd]

I would argue that the first person to experience space entirely alone was John Young, during Apollo 10. Young was the command module pilot.

[kenanderson]

They don't seem to understand the harm that social media is causing young people. Loss of life not the least of that harm. And it is deliberate and unchecked.

[metafuel]

Excellent and interesting discussion. What a bunch of awesome and humble people. The astronauts of course. Great interviewer too. Glad Amazon/ Jeff paid to get them all together for this.