Eileen Collins

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Eileen Collins
Commander Eileen Collins - GPN-2000-001177.jpg
Born
Eileen Marie Collins

(1956-11-19) November 19, 1956 (age 64)
Elmira, New York, U.S.
StatusRetired
OccupationTest pilot
Space career
NASA Astronaut
RankUS Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel, USAF
Time in space
38d 08h 20m
Selection1990 NASA Group 13
MissionsSTS-63, STS-84, STS-93, STS-114
Mission insignia
Sts-63-patch.png Sts-84-patch.png STS-93 patch.svg Sts-114-patch.png
RetirementMay 1, 2006

Eileen Marie Collins (born November 19, 1956) is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Air Force colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle.[1] She was awarded several medals for her work. Colonel Collins has logged 38 days 8 hours and 20 minutes in outer space. Collins retired on May 1, 2006, to pursue private interests, including service as a board member of USAA.

Early life[]

Collins was born in Elmira, New York. Her parents were James E. and Rose Marie Collins. According to a speech she gave when she was inducted into the Irish American 2016 Hall of Fame, her ancestors came to America in the mid-1800s, settling in Pennsylvania and Elmira, New York. She has three siblings. As a child, she participated in Girl Scouts,[2] and expressed an interest both in space flight and in being a pilot.

After graduating from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, Collins attended Corning Community College where she earned an associate degree in mathematics/science in 1976. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1978 with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and economics,[3] then earned a master of science degree in operations research from Stanford University in 1986, and a master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.

Air Force career[]

Following graduation from Syracuse, she was one of four women chosen for Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. After earning her pilot wings, she stayed on at Vance for three years as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot before transitioning to the C-141 Starlifter at Travis Air Force Base, California. From 1986 to 1989, she was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, where she was an assistant professor in mathematics and a T-41 instructor pilot. In 1989, Collins became the second female pilot to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and graduated with class 89B. She was selected for the astronaut program in 1990.[4]

Collins married pilot Pat Youngs in 1987; they have two children.[5]

Astronaut[]

Collins at the commander's station on Columbia during Day 1 of STS-93
Mission Commander Collins and STS-114 crew on their way to launch pad.

Collins was selected to be an astronaut in 1990 and first flew the Space Shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard STS-63, which involved a rendezvous between Discovery and the Russian space station Mir. In recognition of her achievement as the first female Shuttle Pilot, she received the Harmon Trophy. She was also the pilot for STS-84 in 1997.

Collins was also the first female commander of a U.S. Spacecraft with Shuttle mission STS-93, launched in July 1999, which deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.[6][7][8][9]

Collins commanded STS-114, NASA's "return to flight" mission to test safety improvements and resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Asked if she felt even a twinge of fear after the loss of Columbia, Colonel Collins replied "I would have to say no. I want to fly again. I am very mentally ready to go fly again." Then pausing, noting that she wanted to be precise, she added "I am mentally ready to go fly again when the shuttle is cleared to fly."[10] The flight was launched on July 26, 2005, and returned on August 9, 2005. During STS-114, Collins became the first astronaut to fly the Space Shuttle through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver. This was necessary so astronauts aboard the ISS could take photographs of the Shuttle's belly, to ensure there was no threat from debris-related damage to the Shuttle upon reentry.

On May 1, 2006, Collins announced that she would leave NASA to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests.[11] Since her retirement from NASA, she has made occasional public appearances as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings for CNN.

Other activities[]

In May 2001, Collins was the commencement speaker at the 148th commencement of Syracuse University.[3][12]

Political activity[]

Collins with President Bill Clinton in 1998
Collins speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention

On July 20, 2016, Collins addressed the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.[13] It was speculated that she would be appointed NASA administrator under President Donald Trump.[14]

Awards and honors[]

Collins has also received the Free Spirit Award, and the 2006 National Space Trophy, and has an astronomical observatory named in her honor—the Eileen M. Collins Observatory—run by Corning Community College.

Collins has been inducted into the National Women's Hall Of Fame.[15] She has also been recognized by Encyclopædia Britannica as one of the top 300 women in history who have changed the world.[16]

The main entrance boulevard to Syracuse Hancock International Airport is named in Collins' honor.[17]

The New York State Legislature passed a resolution honoring her career on May 9, 2006. The resolution, which touches on the many highlights of Collins's career, reads, in part, "It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of and publicly acknowledge the significant milestones of those individuals from this noble Empire State who have distinguished themselves through their exemplary careers, pioneering spirit and purposeful lives." It was sponsored by State Senator George Winner in the State Senate and Assemblyman Thomas F. O'Mara in the Assembly.

Elmira College awarded Eileen Collins an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the college's 148th Commencement Ceremony on June 4, 2006. Previously Collins received an honorary degree from another alma mater, Webster University, in 1996.[18]

In 2001, Collins received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[19]

The Women's Board of the Adler Planetarium awarded Eileen Collins their Women in Space Science Award on June 7, 2006.

University College Dublin conferred on Colonel Collins the honorary Doctor of Science degree of the National University of Ireland on June 14, 2006.[20]

In 2007, the Space Foundation awarded Collins the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award,[21] which is given annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to public awareness of space programs.

On April 19, 2013, Eileen Collins was inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.[22]

Collins is also a member of the Air Force Association, Order of Daedalians, Women Military Aviators, U.S. Space Foundation, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Ninety-Nines.

Inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas on May 6, 2021.[23][24]

USAF Master Astronaut badge.jpg
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze star
Silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Master Astronaut badge
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
with cluster 		Air Force Commendation Medal
with cluster
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal NASA Space Flight Medal
with three clusters 		Organizational Excellence Award
with two clusters
National Defense Service Medal
with star 		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon
with five clusters 		Air Force Training Ribbon Légion d'honneur
(Chevalier)

See also[]

  • P vip.svg Biography portal

References[]

  1. ^ "Today in History - Syracuse University Graduate Eileen Collins Chosen as First Woman to Pilot Space Shuttle". Onondaga Historical Association. March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "Girl Scout Astronauts". NASA. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "NASA astronaut Eileen Collins to deliver Syracuse University/ESF 2001 Commencement address". SU News. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  4. ^ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. Privately Published. 1994. p. 241.
  5. ^ Brady, James (March 12, 2006). "In Step With... Eileen Collins". parade.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  6. ^ * "Biographical Data: EILEEN MARIE COLLINS (COLONEL, USAF, RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. May 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  7. ^ (JSC), Mark Garcia. "NASA - STS-114 Commander Eileen Collins: From 'Soaring Capital of America' to the Space Shuttle". www.nasa.gov.
  8. ^ Becker, Joachim. "Astronaut Biography: Eileen Collins". www.spacefacts.de.
  9. ^ A 1999 Us Magazine profile Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Yardley, Jim (February 7, 2003). "LOSS OF THE SHUTTLE: THE NEXT CREW; A Shuttle Leader Is Ready 'to Go Fly Again'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  11. ^ Space.com article detailing the announcement of her retirement May 1, 2006
  12. ^ "2001 Commencement Address". SU News. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Pavlich, Katie. "Here is Wednesday's RNC Convention Schedule".
  14. ^ Foust, Jeff (November 11, 2016). "NASA Administrator Bridenstine? His name's in the mix for Trump's space team". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "Home - National Women's Hall of Fame". National Women's Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002.
  16. ^ "Britannica page".
  17. ^ Mariani, John (July 8, 2011). "Space shuttle retirement prompts space veterans with Syracuse ties to ask, What's next?". Syracuse. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Honorary Degrees at Webster University". Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  20. ^ First woman to pilot NASA space shuttle honoured by UCD June 2006
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ Granath, Bob (April 20, 2013). "Three Space Shuttle Astronauts Inducted into Hall of Fame". www.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  23. ^ "Lone Star Flight Museum Held a Virtual Ceremony for 2020 Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame Inductees". Lone Star Flight Museum. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  24. ^ Leinfelder, Andrea (January 10, 2020). "Texas Aviation Hall of Fame announces 2020 inductees". chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 20, 2021.

Further reading[]

  • Raum, Elizabeth (2006). Eileen Collins. Chicago, Ill: Heinemann Library. ISBN 9781403469434. OCLC 58478502.

External links[]

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