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Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
I'm Neil. and I'm Georgina.
In this programme we're going to be talking about the astronaut who piloted the command module to take Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to walk on the Moon.
Michael Collins, who sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 90, has been described as the loneliest man in history.
Yes, while Armstrong delivered his famous quote when taking the first steps on the lunar surface and Buzz followed soon after, Collins was left behind to circle the Moon, tasked with the huge responsibility of getting the three pioneers – the first people to do something – back to Earth.
That's right, and many people over the years have wondered whether he was disappointed not to have walked on the Moon.
How would you feel if you went all that way and didn't stand on the moon, Georgina?
Me personally? I'd probably be pretty devastated, but I think it depends on personality.
To be honest, I'd probably be too scared to go to the Moon anyway.
Yes, and just think about being in a space module together, trapped for all those hours, it could create quite the sense of camaraderie – a friendship and trust formed by spending time together.
Or you could just drive each other crazy asking questions.
Which is what I'm going to do now, Georgina.
I know how much you love animals and the first animal that went into space was a Russian dog in 1957, but what was the dog's name?
a. Irena b. Laika c.
Anastasia Well, I think I know this one – b.
Laika – and I believe sadly she didn't survive!
OK, Georgina. We'll find out if that's right at the end of the programme, but let's talk more about Michael Collins and that famous trip to the moon that captured people's attention around the world.
Yes, I think one thing that has always interested me is the feeling of friendship – or as She said, camaraderie that must have developed between those three explorers.
But perhaps surprisingly, in an interview with the BBC programme Hardtalk, Collins said the close connection between the astronauts didn't develop until later.
We formed some very strong bonds but actually not really during the flight of Apollo 11 or even during the preparatory flight of the flight.
And it was an around the world trip that we took after the flight.
When I came to know Neil better during our training, in the first place we had not been a backup crew as most primary crews had been.
So we just got to know each other in the six months before the flight – which is a short period of time.
So, it wasn't really until afterwards that they formed those strong bonds – the connections between them – until on a trip around the world to talk about their experiences.
Six months sounds like a long time but I suppose when you're preparing to become famous and go down in history as they did, it doesn't leave much time for personal interactions.
One of the sad things to take away is that everyone remembers Armstrong and Aldrin, – but sometimes Collins is seen as the forgotten man!
Yes, and he did say in the interview that he would have loved to walk on the Moon, but he was very proud to be part of the team, as he was one of the trailblazers – a similar word to pioneer.
They most certainly were trailblazers, but imagine how he must have felt circling around the Moon all alone!
Yes, a lot of people questioned Collins afterwards regarding the solitude about which he had this to say in the same interview with BBC programme Hardtalk.
Well, when I returned to Earth I was amazed because most of the questions to me from the press centred on, you were the loneliest man in the whole lonely orbit around the lonely planet on a lonely evening.
And I felt on the other hand, quite comfortable in my happy little home inside the command module, Columbia.
I had been flying airplanes by myself for a number of years.
So the fact I was aloft by myself was not anything new.
So, it sounds like he appreciated the peace and quiet, and he felt used to it having been alone on flights.
Yes, while people talk about the two who walked on the Moon, he must have experienced an incredible sense of peace while on the dark side of the Moon.
the first person ever to go there.
But now, Georgina, let's get the answer to my question.
What was the name of the first animal – a dog – to go into space?
I said Laika. Which is correct, well done, and you were right when you said that she sadly didn't survive the return to Earth.
Well, speaking of dogs, I need to free mind soon, so let's just recap some of the vocabulary we've discussed.
Yes, we had camaraderie – a sense of trust and friendship after spending a long time together, and the creation of strong bonds or connections.
And if you're the first person to do something, you could be called a pioneer.
Or even a trailblazer, which means the same thing.
And if you are the first person to do something, you could become famous and go down in history.
And finally, we spoke about the solitude or state of being alone that Collins must have experienced.
Well, we're out of time for today.
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