A Brief History
On February 3, 1995, Space Shuttle mission STS-63 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral Florida for space with a woman pilot for the first time.
Digging Deeper
Eileen Collins, born in Elmira, New York in 1956, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1979 and went on to earn 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.
A career in the Air Force was in this remarkable lady’s blood, and in 1979 she completed pilot training, one of the few women at the time to do so. Highly skilled as a pilot, she became an instructor for the next 3 years before flying C-141 cargo planes all over the world. From 1986 to 1989 Collins served as a mathematics professor at the US Air Force Academy. In 1990 Eileen became just the second woman to complete test pilot training, and was selected for training as an astronaut.
On the 1995 Discovery mission Collins flew as second in command on her historic flight as a Shuttle pilot, on a mission that linked up with the Russian Mir space station. Proving capable of everything she does, Collins gave birth to a daughter (she had married a fellow Air Force officer) in 1996. Eileen Collins was ready for more space missions by 1997 when she rocketed into space aboard the shuttle Atlantis. Then, in 1999 Collins became the first woman Space Shuttle Commander when she took Columbia up to deploy a giant space telescope (Chandra X-ray Observatory).
Eileen Collins retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 2005, and a year later retired as an astronaut. Having earned the status of Master Astronaut, she has also earned numerous military awards such as the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Legion of Honor (from France) among others. Enshrined in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, she has also earned the Harmon Trophy (1995), a spot in the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, honorary degrees and other awards ad infinitum!
Working in the private sector as a member of the board of USAA (military service personnel insurance company), Collins spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio in 2016 amid speculation that she may be named NASA Administrator.
With an incredible 38 days, 8 hours and 10 minutes in space, this remarkable woman would certainly seem well qualified to serve as the head of NASA, or for that matter just about any other job President Trump may ask of her. Eileen Collins deserves a place in the pantheon of great aviators and aviatrixes, a real American heroine.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see her official biography.
The featured image in this article, a photograph of crew members assigned to the STS-63 mission including (front left to right) Janice E. Voss, mission specialist; Eileen M. Collins, pilot; (the first woman to pilot a Space Shuttle), James D. Wetherbee, commander; and Vladmir G. Titov (Cosmonaut), while standing in the rear are mission specialists Bernard A. Harris (the first Afro-American to walk in space), and C. Michael Foale, was catalogued by Marshall Space Flight Center of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: MSFC-9414225. This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that “NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted“. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on February 3, 1995 at 12:22:04 am (EST), the primary payload for the mission was the SPACEHAB-3. STS-63 marked the first approach and fly around by the Shuttle with the Russian space station Mir.
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="15220 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=15220">34 Comments
Eileen became the second woman to complete test pilot training.
What a great accomplishment for a woman of these times. She really paved the way for women in the space industry
I never knew about Ms. Collins. I was in the Military at this time and didn’t get to read news papers or watch the news. Great read.
Great article, I enjoy these types of stories about great American Heroines.
Great story. What a great woman breaking boundaries and becoming what she wanted to become.
It would be great if she was named head of NASA! What an illustrious career!
Such an inspiring article about a great woman.
I think woman should have the rights if they are good enough and prove themselves just like a man does then yes let them do it too.
What a great read about a successful woman. I appreciate these women who dream big to show that the norm can be to see both genders in any role.
SUch a successful women. Love reading articles like this.
She would do well in the NASA position. She is well qualified and has the background to support it. Her numerous awards and degrees are commendable.
This was a huge step towards equal rights for women. Eileen Collins will go down in history for this great accomplishment.
Mrs. Collins is great hero and she has open doors for women’s right movement. Eileen Collins should lead NASA because she has background and knowledge to do a great job.
Wow what a career. She achieved what most men in Air Force never will. Flew planes, taught at the AF Academy, then became an astronaut.
What makes her so amazing is that she was able to accomplished so much with so much adversity against her. Women were not generally accepted as pilots at that time. The fact that she was not only a successful pilot, but also managed to have a family, was a successful Air Force officer, and taught mathematics and the famous Air Force academy speaks volumes about her accomplishments.
Collins is truely an inspiration Her career is very decorative.
This post goes to show you that women can do just as much as a male.
Good for Mrs. Collins, another path for women. She seems to be a highly educated person.
Women like Mrs. Collins is who our youth should be looking up to.
Eileen Collins deserves to be the NASA Administrator. She has done so much in her career.
She definitely paved the way to equality for women!!!! Good article
Such an inspiration, I’m going to have my daughter read her story. Hard work and determination pays off.
She is an inspiration and a great role model for young women!
Wow! She has accomplished so much including having a family. Even in retirement she keeps working. What an inspiration to people not just women.
Such an inspiration! I love when women are recognized for their hard work because in my opinion, we still don’t tend to get a lot of recognition.
Mildly surprised that there wasn’t a little nod given to the late Sally K. Ride, who was the first American woman in space in 1983. Not to mention, Ms. Ride still holds the record as being the youngest American astronaut ever to go to space, at the ripe old age of 32. I doubt there would have been an Eileen Collins without Sally Ride.
Wow, what a great life filled with great accomplishments. It would be an honor to meet that woman.
Women can do extraordinary things and we can achieve whatever we want.
She is a national hero and she is also a model for women
This is an incredible woman! Overcoming stereotypes and being an all around rock star.
Another woman hero in the history books! Great woman for young girls with big dreams to look up too.
Another woman proving that women can do jobs that are stereo-typically considered a “mans” job. Of my 4 children 3 of them are girls. Now adults I still tell them you can do anything you set your mind to and you can achieve great things. There are so many women that have accomplished great things in life.
Such great accomplishments from this woman. It is to bad that we don’t learn about all these women in high school. It might help break the stigma early on that women can’t do “men” things.
Again as stated in a previous article I was once told if you set your mind to you you will be able to do it. This women yet again proves that statement to be true, just because you are a female does not mean you cannot do certain things.