Michael Collins – one of the three crew members of the first manned mission to land on the Moon, Apollo 11 in 1969 – has died aged 90, his family say.
He died on Wednesday after “a valiant battle with cancer. He spent his final days peacefully, with his family by his side,” they said.
Collins stayed in lunar orbit as his colleagues Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.
Aldrin, 91, is now the only surviving member of the mission.
Paying tribute to Collins, Aldrin wrote in a tweet: “Dear Mike, Wherever you have been or will be, you will always have the Fire to Carry us deftly to new heights and to the future. We will miss you. May you Rest In Peace.”
‘We felt the weight of the world on our shoulders’
In a statement, the Collins family said that “Mike always faced the challenges of life with grace and humility, and faced this, his final challenge, the same way”.
“We will miss him terribly. Yet we also know how lucky Mike felt to have lived the life he did.
“We will honour his wish for us to celebrate, not mourn, that life.”
On 16 July 2019, Collins visited Florida’s Kennedy Space Center – the site where the mission had set off exactly 50 years earlier.
Speaking at launchpad 39A – where the crew’s rocket began the historic mission – he described how he felt during take-off.
“The shockwave from the rocket power hits you,” Collins told Nasa TV. “Your whole body is shaking. This gives you an entirely… different concept of what power really means.”
“You’re suspended in the cockpit… as you lift off,” he continued. “From then on it’s a quieter, more rational, silent ride all the way to the Moon.
“We crew felt the weight of the world on our shoulders, we knew that everyone would be looking at us, friend or foe.”
Unsung hero of the first Moon landing
Analysis
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin garnered most of the attention for the historic first Moon landing in 1969.
But their crewmate, Michael Collins, was just as important for the success of the mission.
As the command module pilot, Collins stayed in lunar orbit while Neil and Buzz bounded across the surface. But he performed crucial manoeuvres in space that were needed to get to the Moon.
He was sanguine about others getting the glory: “I certainly thought that I did not have the best seat of the three,” he said. “But I can say in all honesty, I was thrilled with the seat that I did have.”
After leaving Nasa, he had a brief spell in politics, but later retired to Florida, where he painted and wrote.
Despite joining Twitter in 2019, at the age of 88, he admitted that he never really enjoyed the spotlight of public life.
But his name will live on, as a new generation of astronauts prepares to return to the Moon in the next few years, following the trail blazed by Collins and the other pioneers of Apollo.
What was the Apollo 11 mission?
On 16 July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were strapped into their Apollo spacecraft on top of the vast Saturn V rocket and were propelled into orbit in just over 11 minutes.
Four days later, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface. Collins remained in the command module throughout the mission.
Armstrong’s words, beamed to the world by TV, entered history: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
About 400,000 people worked on the programme, at a cost at the time of $25bn.
The crew returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 24 July.
An estimated 650 million people worldwide watched the Moon landing. For the US, the achievement helped it demonstrate its power to a world audience.
Kilo Lazer officially steps into a new chapter with the release of his debut album, From the Mud a body of work that captures his journey, resilience, consistency, and undeniable growth.
Rooted in experience and shaped by the realities of coming from the bottom, From the Mud tells Kilo Lazer’s story through raw energy, honest storytelling, and a sound that reflects how far he has come.
More than a debut, the album is a testament to staying the course, trusting the process, and turning struggle into purpose.
Kilo Lazer’s From the Mud is out now on all major streaming platforms.
Multi-hyphenate artist, selector, and creative director Queen Petite is ushering in a bold, uninhibited era for global African music with the release of her brand-new single and self-engineered genre movement, “Ikapiano Pop.” Marking her second major genre innovation following her pioneering creation of Dembowpiano, the Nigeria-London based powerhouse continues to push global dancefloors into uncharted territory off the momentum of her standout projects PETITENESS and REBEL BLACK SHEEP.
Guided by her background behind the decks, Queen Petite’s work is driven by an instinctual command of room energy, seamless transitions, and dancefloor mechanics. Ikapiano Pop stands as a textured, high-octane fusion that layers trunk-rattling Miami basslines and crisp hip-hop drums over the hypnotic, swinging log-drums of Afropiano. Grounding this international production is her native heritage: the vocals are written and performed entirely in the Ika dialect, native to the South-South region of Nigeria, proving that raw, local storytelling holds universal cross-border appeal.
“Creating new sounds is second nature to me—first with Dembowpiano, and now stepping into my second genre creation with IKAPIANO POP,” states Queen Petite. “I didn’t start with an existing box and add my name to it; I built the blueprint from scratch. Being a DJ taught me how to read energy, and I wanted to construct something that feels incredible whether you’re listening in headphones or in a packed arena. It brings together my African identity, global influences, and pop accessibility so people feel free, confident, and unstoppable.”
Captured during an intense burst of inspiration, the track was recorded at London’s Hot Money Studios alongside engineer Patrick, with Queen Petite personally directing her Nigerian producer over the phone to execute the exact rhythmic blueprint in her mind. More than just a single release, Ikapiano Pop represents a long-term global movement set to anchor her upcoming DJ sets and live performances across the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Described in three words as Free, Vibrant, and Unstoppable, “Ikapiano Pop” is available now on all major streaming platforms.
Watch the Official Music Video for “Ikapiano Pop”
Blow Money Records proudly announces the release of “Jẹjẹ,” the latest single and official music video from Nigerian Afro-fusion artist Temmy Dreddz.
Produced by the talented OxDBeat and visually brought to life by Kore Culture with breathtaking scenes filmed in South Africa, Jẹjẹ is a refreshing Afrobeats record that celebrates love, patience, hope, and the beauty of embracing life’s journey one step at a time.
More than just a song, Jẹjẹ delivers a powerful message in a world driven by urgency. Inspired by the Yoruba expression jẹjẹ, meaning gently or take it easy, the record reminds listeners that meaningful progress, genuine love, and lasting success are built with patience, consistency, and faith in the process.
Complementing the song is a visually captivating music video that blends cinematic storytelling with vibrant African scenery, perfectly reflecting the warmth, emotion, and uplifting spirit of the record. Shot against the stunning landscapes of South Africa, the video enhances the song’s message while showcasing Temmy Dreddz’s artistic identity on a global stage.
Speaking on the release, Temmy Dreddz describes Jẹje.
With this release, Temmy Dreddz continues to establish himself as one of the emerging voices in contemporary African music, delivering authentic stories through infectious melodies and relatable songwriting.
“Jẹjẹ” and its official music video are now available on all major digital streaming platforms and YouTube worldwide.
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