Eileen Collins piloted the Space Shuttle Discovery during the 1995 STS-63 mission, marking the first time a woman served as pilot for the spacecraft. Her career as an Air Force officer and NASA astronaut spanned three decades, ultimately breaking barriers as the first female commander of a U.S. space mission during the 1999 flight of STS-93.
Military Foundations
Born in Elmira in 1956, Collins pursued aviation through the U.S. Air Force. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1978, she entered pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Her early service included instructing pilots in the T-38 Talon and flying the C-141 Starlifter. During the 1983 invasion of Grenada, she transported troops and medical students. She furthered her technical expertise by attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, graduating with class 89B in 1989.
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NASA selected Collins as a pilot astronaut in 1990. Following her initial shuttle mission, she served as pilot for STS-84 in 1997. Her appointment as commander for STS-93 allowed her to oversee the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In 2005, she commanded STS-114, the first mission following the Columbia disaster. During this flight, she performed a 360-degree pitch maneuver, enabling ISS crew members to photograph the orbiter for safety inspections.
Academic and Professional Credentials
Collins maintained a rigorous academic schedule alongside her flight duties. She earned a Master of Science in operations research from Stanford University in 1986 and a Master of Arts in space systems management from Webster University in 1989. Her transition from active service concluded with her retirement as an Air Force colonel in January 2005, followed by her departure from NASA in May 2006.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Elmira, United States
- Education: Syracuse University, Stanford University, Webster University
- NASA selection: 1990, Astronaut Group 13
- First female Space Shuttle pilot: STS-63 (1995)
- First female Space Shuttle commander: STS-93 (1999)
- Air Force retirement: January 2005
- NASA retirement: May 2006
- Awards: National Women's Hall of Fame (1995), National Aviation Hall of Fame (2009)
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the 360-degree pitch maneuver Collins performed in 2005?
It allowed astronauts on the International Space Station to photograph the orbiter's belly to check for debris damage.
Which major space observatory did Collins help deploy into orbit?
She commanded the mission that deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory in 1999.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- National Women's Hall of Fame — 1995
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 2009
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Syracuse University, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and Elmira Free Academy
- Worked as air force officer, Granjeras and aircraft pilot