CinemaBlend Copy to clipboard Michael Collins, one of the astronauts vital to the success of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, has died. Collins, who served as an astronaut at NASA for seven years of his life, passed away at the age of 90 after a battle with cancer. News of Michael Collins' death was first shared by his family (which includes former All My Children star Kate Collins), who notified the public via the astronaut's social media platforms. Read their statement, which includes Collins' final wish concerning his death, below. We regret to share that our beloved father and grandfather passed away today, after a valiant battle with cancer. 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.