A Woman Who Reached for the Stars

On February 3, 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, flying the STS-114 Discovery to the Russian Mir space station. On July 23, 1999, she became the first woman commander of a space shuttle mission, the STS-93 Columbia. This mission carried the newest telescope since the Hubble, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which captured images in deep space. The mission was a success in capturing new images and data. (National Archives) The Shuttle pilot is second in command, and their primary responsibility is to control and operate the Shuttle. Pilots assist the Shuttle commander as necessary. The Shuttle commander is first in command and is responsible for the vehicle, crew, mission success, and safety. Often the commander is also the pilot of the Shuttle. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA))

"I'm proud to be here to congratulate Colonel Eileen Collins on becoming the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. She may not fit the exact mold of 40 years ago, but she clearly embodies the essential qualities of all our astronauts, then and now, the bold, restless, pioneering spirit that had made our Nation great. And as we've already heard, the story of her life is a story of challenges set and challenges met. That is also the story of our space program."

Born November 19, 1956, in Elmira, New York, Lt. Collins received 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. She has received many distinguished honors including the Defense Superior Service Medal and NASA Space Flight Medals. She graduated from the Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in 1979. She was selected for the astronaut program in 1990 while attending the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and became an astronaut in July 1991. Her last space flight was on the STS-114 Discovery from July 26 to August 9, 2005. She retired from the Air Force in January 2005 and from NASA in May 2006 as a veteran of four space flights. Read more of her biographical data on NASA's website.

Read remarks and tributes to Lt. Col. Collins in the Congressional Record.

Additional Article Sources and Resources

• Watch NASA’s video “Eileen Collins: Space Pioneer on NASA's website for a more in-depth look at her space career.
• Check out the Library of Congress's Women in Air and Space Resource page for women in flight, space and astronomy, and the individuals who made a difference in these specific fields of science.
• Look at NASA’s "Women at Nasa" webpage to see how they are celebrating the past and looking to the future as they continue to drive innovation and push the envelope.