Born
Nov. 19, 1956 |
Born in Elmire, N.Y. to James and Rose Marie Collins |
 |
Eileen grew up in a family with two brothers, a sister and
"two very supportive parents." Her parents, Jim and Rose Collins
describe her as "a very ordinary person, a down-to-earth individual.
She's very thoughtful. Nobody handed her anything. Everything
she is today, she's earned." |
| Highschool |
"I began reading voraciously about famous pilots, from Amelia
Earhart to Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who played an
important role in W.W. II. Their stores inspired me. I admired
the courage of these women to go and fly into dangerous situations!"
|
| 1974 |
Graduated from Elmira Free Academy, Elmira, New York |
| 1976 |
Associate in science degree in mathematics/science from Corning
Community College |
| 1978 |
Bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from
Syracuse University she became one of the first women to go
straight from college into Air Force pilot training.
This is the point where Eileen set her goals on staying
competitive for becoming an astronaut.
|
| 1979 |
Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma |
1982
 |
T-38 instructor pilot |
| 1983 to 1985 |
C-141 aircraft commander and instructor pilot at Travis AFB,
California
Met now-pilot husband - shared mutual love for flying |
| 1986 |
Master of science degree in operations research from Stanford
University |
| 1986 to 1989 |
Assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, where
she was an assistant professor in mathematics and a T-41 instructor
pilot |
| 1989 |
Master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster
University astronaut program while attending the Air Force Test
Pilot School |
1990
 |
Graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California
Selected by NASA in January
|
1991
 |
Became an astronaut
- Assigned to Orbiter engineering support
- Served on the astronaut support team responsible for Orbiter
prelaunch checkout, final launch configuration, crew ingress/egress,
landing/recovery,
- Worked in Mission Control as a spacecraft communicator
(CAPCOM) for numerous shuttle missions
- Served as the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems Branch
Chief.
|
1995
|
STS-63 was the first flight of the new joint Russian-American
Space Program. Rendezvous with the Russian Space Station Mir,
operation of Spacehab, the deployment and retrieval of an astronomy
satellite, and a space walk. She was the first woman pilot of
a Space Shuttle. |
1997
 |
STS-84 was NASA's sixth Shuttle mission to rendezvous and
dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. In completing this
9-day mission, she traveled 3.8 million miles in 145 orbits
of the Earth logging a total of 221 hours and 20 minutes in
space. |
| March 5, 1998 |
Official announcement of Commander Collins as the First Woman
Space Shuttle Commander |
Create a Bio-line for one of your female family members using
the activity below.
