(CNN)Michael Collins, the NASA
astronaut who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission to the
moon, has died at age 90 after battling cancer.
His family shared the news Wednesday after his passing
on Collins'
Facebook page.
"We regret to share that our beloved father and
grandfather passed away today, after a valiant battle with cancer," the
statement read.
"He spent his final days peacefully, with his family
by his side. Mike always faced the challenges of life with grace and humility,
and faced this, his final challenge, in 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 honor his wish for us to celebrate, not mourn, that life. Please join
us in fondly and joyfully remembering his sharp wit, his quiet sense of
purpose, and his wise perspective, gained both from looking back at Earth from
the vantage of space and gazing across calm waters from the deck of his fishing
boat. Our family asks for privacy during this difficult time. Details on
services will be forthcoming."
This astronaut portrait of Collins was taken on July 1,
1969, shortly before the Apollo 11 flight.
NASA, where Collins spent seven years of his career as an
astronaut, also released a statement about Collins' passing.
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