Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins
Eileen Marie Collins

NASA press photo
NASA Astronaut
Nationality American
Status Retired
Born November 19, 1956 (1956-11-19) (age 55)
Elmira, New York
Other occupation Test Pilot
Rank Colonel, USAF (retired)
Time in space 38d 08h 10m
Selection 1990 NASA Group
Missions STS-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
Retirement May 2006

Eileen Marie Collins (b. November 19, 1956 in Elmira, New York) is a retired American astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. She was awarded several medals for her work. Col. Collins has logged 38 days 8 hours and 10 minutes in outer space. Collins retired on May 1, 2006 to pursue private interests, including service as a board member of USAA.

Contents

Astronaut experience

Collins was selected to be an astronaut in 1992 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.

Mission Commander Collins and STS-114 crew on their way to launch pad.

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.[1][2][3][4]

Collins commanded STS-114, NASA's "return to flight" mission to test safety improvements and resupply the International Space Station (ISS). 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.[5] Since her retirement from NASA, she has been seen as a Space Shuttle analyst generally covering Shuttle launches and landings for CNN.

Personal life

Collins's parents were James E. and Rose Marie Collins, immigrants from County Cork, Ireland.[6] She has three siblings. As a child, Collins 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 and 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. Following graduation from Syracuse, she was one of four women chosen for undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, OK. After earning her wings, she stayed on a Vance for three years as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot before transitioning to the C-141 Starlifter at Travis Air Force Base. In 1989, Collins became the second female pilot to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and graduated with class 89B.[7]

Collins married pilot Pat Youngs in 1987 and they have two children.[8]

Awards and honors

Collins has received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury), the French Legion of Honor, NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal and Space Flight Medals, the Free Spirit Award, and the 2006 National Space Trophy. Collins also has an astronomical observatory named in her honor—the Eileen M. Collins Observatory—run by Corning Community College.

Collins is an inductee of the National Womens Hall Of Fame.[9] She has also been recognized by Encyclopædia Britannica as one of the top 300 women in history who have changed the world.[10]

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

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.

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 14 June 2006.[11]

In 2007, the Space Foundation awarded Collins the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award,[12] which is given annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to public awareness of space programs.

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.

Notes

  1. ^ Official NASA Bio
  2. ^ STS-114 Eileen Collins Crew Profile
  3. ^ Spacefacts biography of Eileen Collins
  4. ^ A 1999 Us Magazine profile
  5. ^ Space.com article detailing the announcement of her retirement May 1, 2006
  6. ^ Harty, Patricia (2001). Greatest Irish Americans of the 20th century. Oak Tree Press. p. 53. 
  7. ^ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. Privately Published. 1994. p. 241. 
  8. ^ Brady, James (2006-03-12). "In Step With... Eileen Collins". parade.com. http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_03-12-2006/Brady. Retrieved 2007-02-08. 
  9. ^ Hall of Fame page
  10. ^ Britannica page
  11. ^ First woman to pilot NASA space shuttle honoured by UCD June 2006
  12. ^ http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/symposium-awards

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