Episode 12 - How Eileen Collins Blazed a Trail in Space

Behind the Wings

Strap in folks, we are going to Space with a very special guest who blazed her own trail, defying the grip of Earth’s gravity, and breaking a glass ceiling into the cosmos. Our Guest today is Retired NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins.

Col. Collins has lived an amazing life, and though she has retired from the NASA astronaut program, her mission to share her story and inspire the next generation of explorers is far from over. Many of us can only dream of a career like hers - from her achievements as the first woman to command an American space mission and the first to pilot the space shuttle to her early years as one of the Air Force’s first female pilots.

Eileen is one of those pioneers who forever changed the trajectory of space exploration - this one's going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Eileen Collins was born in 1956 in Elmira, New York.
• She received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978.
• Collins joined the Air Force in 1979 and became a pilot.
• She was selected for the astronaut program in 1990.
• Collins made her first trip to space in 1995 as a member of the STS-63 crew.
• In 1999, Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle when she led the STS-93 mission.
• She commanded two more space shuttle missions: STS-114 in 2005 and STS-121 in 2006.
• Collins retired from NASA and the Air Force in 2006.
• After her retirement, she worked as a consultant and public speaker.
• Collins has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to space exploration, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

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References:

• The official NASA website has a page dedicated to Eileen Collins that provides biographical information, photos, and details about her missions: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/eileen-m-collins/biography
• The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has an interview with Collins on their website, where she discusses her career and experiences in space: https://astronautscholarship.org/eileen-collin
• The National Air and Space Museum has a page about Collins on their website, which includes information about her career and achievements: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/eileen-collin
• The Encyclopedia Britannica has an entry about Collins that provides an overview of her life and career: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eileen-Collins
• The Women in Aviation International organization has a profile of Collins on their website, which includes information about her achievements and contributions to the field of aviation: https://www.wai.org/pioneers/eileen-collins