WASHINGTON: American astronaut Michael Collins, who stayed behind in the command module of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin traveled to the lunar surface to become the first humans to walk on the moon has passed away.

According to press note issued by his family, Collins died of cancer on Wednesday at age of 90.

Often described as the “forgotten” third astronaut on the historic mission, Collins remained alone for more than 21 hours until his two colleagues returned in the lunar module.

He lost contact with mission control in Houston each time the spacecraft circled the dark side of the moon.

Collins wrote an account of his experiences in his 1974 autobiography, “Carrying the Fire,” but largely shunned publicity.

(With inputs from Agencies)