Eileen Collins was the first woman to command a space shuttle.
By Geoffrey Cobb
Inducted into theNational Womens Hall of Fame, Eileen Collins has been recognized by Encyclopedia Britannica as one of the top 300 women in history who have changed the world. A former air force colonel, military instructor and test pilot, Collins became both the first female pilot, and first female commander, of a space shuttle.
Eileen Collins was born in Elmira, N.Y., on Nov. 19, 1956. Her Irish ancestors came to America in the mid-1800s, settling in Pennsylvania and Elmira. Collinss love of airplanes and flying began as a child. She recalled, When I was very young and first started reading about astronauts, there were no women astronauts. Inspired as a child by the Mercury astronauts, Collins started reading anything she could find on space and airplanes and especially astronauts. In fourth grade, she read a Junior Scholastic Magazine article on the pros and cons of spending money on the space program, but the 8-year-old Collins could not think of any cons about investing in space exploration.
The absence of female astronauts didnt faze her; however, she kept her dreams of flying in space secret.I never told anybody I wanted to be an astronaut or pilot, she said. I consciously never talked about it because I knew people would say, You cant do that. And I didnt want to hear it Even when I started my flying lessons and this would have been when I was between my junior and senior year in college I didnt tell my friends. I dont think I even told my parents.
She graduated from a junior college with a degree in Math and then matriculated at Syracuse University and her timing was perfect. New opportunities were opening up for women in aviation. In 1978, Collins enlisted in the Air Force and became one of four women admitted to Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Oklahomas Vance Air Force Base, where she faced intense scrutiny. During her first month of training, she realized she had a chance to make her childhood dream of space flight a reality. I wanted to be part of our nations space program. Its the greatest adventure on this planet or off the planet, for that matter. I wanted to fly the Space Shuttle.
In 1979, Collins became theAir Forcesfirst femaleflightinstructor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, where for the next 11 years she taught both flying and math. As a C-141 Starlifter transport aircraft commander, Collins also participated in the American invasion ofGrenadain 1983, delivering troops and evacuating medical students. She continued her training at the Air Forces Institute of Technology and was one of the first women to attend Air Force Test Pilot School, which she graduated from in 1990, eventually achieving the rank of Air Force Colonel. Collins also earned an M.S. inoperations researchfromStanford Universityin 1986 and an M.A. in space systems management from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo., in 1989. Collins married pilot Pat Youngs in 1987 and is the mother of two children.
Collins was selected to be an astronaut in 1990 and completed astronaut training in July 1991. After tours at Kennedy Space Center, working on the shuttle launch and landing, and at the Johnson Space Center, working as a shuttle engineer and capsule communicator, she made history in 1995 when she became the first woman to fly a space shuttle, successfully piloting Discovery. In recognition of her achievement as the first female shuttle pilot, she received theHarmon Trophy, presented to the worlds top male and female aviators. Two years later, Collins again made history when she became the first female to dock with the Russian space station Mir, piloting Atlantis. Prior to the docking of Discovery with the space station, Collins piloted the shuttle through a full 360 pitch maneuver, becoming the first person to do so with an orbiter, which allowed her crew members to photograph the ships underside for possible damage.
In 1999, with hundreds of hours of experience in space flight under her belt, Collins had her greatest achievement when she became the first ever female to command the space shuttle, piloting Columbia in 1999 during its deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. AfterColumbia was destroyed in the February 2003 disaster, the space shuttle fleet was grounded until July 2005, when Collins commandedDiscoveryon a return to flight mission, checking new safety modifications, while resupplying the International Space Station. The successful mission would mark her final time in space.
In 2006, Collins retired after a 28-year distinguished career in the Air Force, logging more than 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft and more than 872 hours in space on four separate space flights. That same year, Collins won the National Space Trophy and University College Dublinconferred on her the honorary Doctor of Science degree of theNational University of Ireland.
Collins has continued to garner honors and awards. She was asked to speak at the 148thcommencement ofher alma mater Syracuse University. On April 19, 2013, Eileen Collins was inducted into theUnited States Astronaut Hall of Fame. In 2016, Collins was she inducted into the Irish American Hall of Fame and she also spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio before a national audience. The main entrance to Syracuse Hancock International airport was named in her honor as well.
Collins has remained active. She became director of the United Services Automobile Association and has served also the U.S.S.A in a number of other roles. Collins has also served as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings forthe CNN network. There was discussion that President Trump would even name her NASA administrator. Today Corning Community College, the place where Collins began her amazing career, honors her with the Eileen Collins Observatory, a fitting tribute to the schools most illustrious graduate.
More:
Secret dreams of space came through | Arts & Leisure - Irish Echo
- Armadillo’s Level 2 LLC attempt coming soon? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Decisions, decisions [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Armadillo versus the weather [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Photos from Armadillo’s Saturday flights [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Armadillo Level 2 Flight 1 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Meanwhile, elsewhere in the LLC race [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Masten gets halfway there [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Xombie photos (finally!) [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Is the media clowning around? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Galactic Suite “on schedule”? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Scientist Guest Column: Using Commercial Suborbital Spacecraft for Microgravity Chemistry Research [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Building Spaceport Infrastructure: An Overview of the STIM-Grants Program [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Five Years After SpaceShipOne’s Historic X PRIZE Flight, New Challenges Await [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Masten Space Systems Makes Successful Flights to Qualify for $150K NASA Lunar Lander Prize Level 1 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Distinguished Former NASA Astronauts Endorse Commercial Spaceflight in Wall Street Journal Op-Ed [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- NASA Chief Praises Commercial Spaceflight, Suborbital Science, & Innovation Prizes in Speech [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- CSF Welcomes Strong Support for Commercial Human Spaceflight in White House Panel’s Report [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation President Bretton Alexander Appointed to the NASA Advisory Council [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- In November 5th Public Ceremony, NASA to Award $1.65 Million In Prizes for Commercial Spaceflight Successes [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- CSF Congratulates Winners of NASA’s $2 Million Lunar Lander Challenge [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Welcome to the NewSpace Journal [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Some things even Virgin can’t control [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- While you’re waiting for the rollout… [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- SpaceShipTwo rollout: initial impressions [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- A couple of pics [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- SpaceShipTwo slideshow [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Virgin party’s aftermath [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Investment in Commercial Spaceflight Grows to $1.46 Billion, Updated Industry Study Reveals [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Former Astronaut-Astronomer, Sam Durrance, Joins the CSF Suborbital Researchers Group [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation Announces Creation and Initial Membership of Spaceports Council [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- CSF President Bretton Alexander Testifies Before House Science Committee on Spaceflight Safety [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- CSF Vice-Chairman Jeff Greason Testifies Before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Commercial Spaceflight Regulation [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Virgin Galactic Unveils SpaceShipTwo [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- So that’s why Aabar invested in Virgin? [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2009]
- More about the Virgin rollout aftermath [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2009]
- Space tourism as “the final undiscovered frontier”? [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2009]
- Orion Propulsion acquired [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2009]
- Spaceport America developments [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2009]
- XCOR wins a major customer [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2009]
- Centennial Challenges, Spaceport Infrastructure Grants, and Suborbital Science to Receive Funds from NASA and FAA [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2009]
- Video tour of Spaceport America [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2009]
- Virgin’s web traffic planning [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2009]
- List of Speakers Announced for the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in February [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2009]
- Popular Science Features Commercial Spaceflight on January Cover, Discusses NASA Partnerships [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2010]
- Aviation Week honors the “Space Entrepreneur” [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2010]
- “The Space Entrepreneur” Named by Aviation Week Magazine As Its 2009 Person of the Year [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2010]
- Additional notes about Olsen’s book [Last Updated On: January 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 6th, 2010]
- Registration deadline approaching for suborbital science conference [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2010]
- NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver to Keynote the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in February [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2010]
- Cecil Field gets spaceport license – but will anyone use it? [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2010]
- Training begins for suborbital scientist-astronauts [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2010]
- First Class of Suborbital Scientist-Astronauts Successfully Complete NASTAR Training Program [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2010]
- Is “space tour guide” in your professional future? [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2010]
- What can Florida, Indiana, and others learn from Oklahoma? [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2010]
- Virginia wants money, New Mexico wants laws [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2010]
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation Responds to the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel’s 2009 Annual Report [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2010]
- CSF Statement on NASA’s Anticipated Announcement of a $6 Billion Commercial Crew Program and NASA Budget Increase [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2010]
- CSF Welcomes New NASA Human Spaceflight Plan, Congratulates Commercial Crew Development Winners [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2010]
- NASA Unveils Commercial Human Spaceflight Development Agreements and Announces $50 Million in Seed Funding for Commercial Crew [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2010]
- James Cameron Endorses Commercial Spaceflight, New NASA Plan [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2010]
- Newt Gingrich and Bob Walker Endorse Obama’s New NASA Plan, Urge Bipartisan Support [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2010]
- Blue Origin proposes orbital vehicle [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2010]
- CSF Announces New Research and Education Affiliates Program, Initial Participating Universities [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2010]
- CSF Welcomes Historic NASA Commitment of $75 Million for Commercial Suborbital Flights, Payloads [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2010]
- Suborbital vehicle development updates [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2010]
- Other conference announcements [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2010]
- Bigger prizes to come? [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2010]
- Gov. Bill Richardson Endorses Commercial Spaceflight, Obama’s New NASA Plan [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2010]
- Over 250 People Attend Next-Gen Suborbital Researchers Conference, 2011 Meeting Planned for Florida [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2010]
- Boston Globe, Nature, New York Times Editorial Boards Among Others Welcoming New NASA Plan [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2010]
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation Commends New Mexico for Passage of Key Liability Legislation [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2010]
- Burt Rutan’s BigThink [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2010]
- Brief notes: Soyuz, Virgin, and… iCarly? [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2010]
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation 2009 Annual Report Highlights Industry Progress [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2010]
- SpaceShipTwo flies, on schedule [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2010]
- SpaceShipTwo captive carry flight video [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2010]
- Over the Mojave Desert, Suborbital Vehicles Take Flight [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2010]
- See WK2 and SS2 fly in New Mexico this October [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2010]
- SA10: Commercial RLV Technology Roadmap update [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2010]
- An evolving Armadillo [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2010]