In orbit, 60 miles above the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are beginning preparations

for their descent to the lunar surface.

They're onboard Eagle, the lunar module, which is just about to separate from the command

module, Columbia.

Watching Eagle drift slowly away from him, his command module pilot, Michael Collins,

who says farewell to his commander with a characteristic whip.

Take time of ignition.

The moment when Collins will fire his engine to put more distance between him and the

lunar module, a while later, Eagle's descent engine will also fire.

A burst of propellant that will send the lander from 60 miles to just 50,000 feet above

the moon.

Michael Collins is now alone, keeping vigilant watch over Eagle from his seat in Columbia,

ready to dive down and rescue them should something go wrong.

When he sealed Armstrong and Aldrin into the lunar module before separation, he knew

that he might be the last person to see them alive.

He understood that if something catastrophic happened, he would have to return to Earth alone,

the sole survivor of a tragic mission.

When Neil and Buzz were on the surface, I was by myself, and I felt the responsibility

for all of us, the responsibility for getting a three of us home in one piece.

We choose to go to the moon.

Captain, we're going to land in Eagle.

He's going to use the here, go for landing, Aldrin.

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