Eileen Collins
Eileen Collins | |
---|---|
NASA astronaut | |
Rank | Colonel, USAF |
Time in space | 36d 7h 11m |
Selection | NASA Group 13 (1990) |
Missions | STS-63 STS-84 STS-93 STS-114 |
Mission insignia | |
Retirement | 1 May 2006 |
Military career | |
Years of service | 1978–2005 |
Battles/wars | United States invasion of Grenada |
Eileen Marie Collins (born 19 November 1956) is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Air Force (USAF) colonel. A former flight instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission.
A graduate of
In 1990, Collins was selected to be a pilot astronaut with
Early life
Eileen Marie Collins was born in
Collins attended St. Patrick's School in Elmira up to the
In 1975, the United States Air Force (USAF) changed its policy to allow women to train as pilots, although only for non-combat missions. The first ten women chosen for pilot training in September 1976 were all serving Air Force officers with four-year college degrees. They graduated in September 1977. Collins noted their names and followed their progress and subsequent careers with interest, hoping to soon follow in their footsteps.[15][16]
Six weeks after graduating from Corning, Collins reported to
In January 1978, Collins received orders to report to Offutt Air Force Base upon graduation from Syracuse, to become a computer systems engineer. Before this could occur, the Syracuse AFROTC commander, Colonel Vernon Hagen, informed her that the USAF was now accepting up to ten women from AFROTC programs for pilot training; the first ten women graduated on 2 September 1977.[18][19] He offered to put her name forward. Collins eagerly accepted the offer, but a physical examination at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base revealed that although she had 20/20 visual acuity in her right eye, she had only 20/25 in the left, leading to her being rejected. Hagen told her to rest her eyes, and ordered a re-test, which she passed.[19] She graduated later that year with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics.[20][21]
Air Force career
Upon graduation from Syracuse, Collins was commissioned as a
For her UPT, Collins requested that she be assigned to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, where the first ten women had trained,[15][25] but the USAF personnel office decided to send her to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. There were three other women in her class, 79–08. She decorated her helmet with the logo E = mc2, an allusion to both her initials and Albert Einstein's mass–energy equivalence equation. Flight training was conducted in the T-37 Tweet.[25] On 24 November 1978, she became the first member of her class to fly solo.[26]
The second phase of instruction began in March 1979 in the
Now a
During the
From August 1986 to June 1989, Collins was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, where she was an assistant professor in mathematics, teaching courses on calculus and linear algebra, and a T-41 instructor pilot.[33][35] Through the Air Force Institute of Technology, she earned a Master of Science in operations research from Stanford University in 1986,[34][35] and a Master of Arts in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.[3] She had begun dating a fellow C-141 pilot,[36] James P. (Pat) Youngs, in August 1983.[3] Youngs was also posted to the Air Force Academy, as a golf instructor. They were married on 1 August 1987. Youngs eventually left the USAF to fly as a commercial pilot for Delta Air Lines, thereby giving himself the flexibility to follow Collins as her career progressed.[36]
Earning an advanced degree improved her chances of being selected for the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, but USAF rules required officers to pay back their tuition by serving with the duty assignment that provided the funding. This meant that she was supposed to remain at the Air Force Academy for three years. She hoped that this rule would be waived, but her first two applications for the USAF Test Pilot School were rejected on these grounds. When she applied for a third time in 1989, she had been in the USAF for longer than the ten-year maximum allowed before entering the USAF Test Pilot School, but this time a waiver was granted.[37] In the meantime, Captain Jacquelyn Susan "Jackie" Parker became the first woman to graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School in 1988.[38]
Collins became the second woman pilot to attend when she joined Class 89B in June 1989.
Astronaut career
Selection and training
On 17 April 1989, the
In September 1989, Collins received a call from Duane Ross, the selection board's administrative officer, inviting her to come to the Johnson Space Center (JSC) with the second of five groups of hopefuls for a week of interviews, examinations, medical evaluations and orientation, commencing on 2 October 1989.[47][48] Once again, her eyesight proved a problem; she failed the depth perception test, but the doctor allowed her to take an alternative test, which she passed.[49] On 16 January 1990, she saw a note on the message board asking her to call Duane Ross. When she called she was put through to John Young, who informed her that she had been selected. When he asked if she had any questions, she asked if she was to be a pilot or a mission specialist. Young laughed and told her: "Pilot! Yes, pilot. You will be the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle!"[50]
Collins's selection as one of the twenty-three
After nine months in this assignment, Collins was sent to the
STS-63
Collins first flew the Space Shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard STS-63. This was the first time a woman had piloted the Space Shuttle.[55] Delays in the flight schedule meant that she was the second-last member of her class to fly in space.[56] Two more women pilots joined the Astronaut Corps in 1995 with NASA Astronaut Group 15: Pamela Melroy and Susan Still. They would be the only other women to pilot the Space Shuttle in its thirty-year history.[57]
The STS-63 mission involved a
In preparation for the mission, Collins flew over 500 approaches and landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA), a NASA training vehicle that duplicated the orbiter's approach profile and handling qualities. The crew paid a visit to Russia and visited Star City and aircraft and spacecraft museums in the Moscow area, and sat in the cockpit of the Buran spacecraft, the Russian equivalent of the Space Shuttle.[56] On Collins' invitation, seven of the surviving members of the Mercury 13 attended the launch on 3 February 1995.[58]
A series of thruster burns brought Discovery into line with Mir. The mission plan called for an approach to no less than 10 meters (11 yd) of Mir, followed by a flyaround. This was delayed by problems with three of the orbiter's 44
As well as rendezvousing with Mir, Discovery carried the
Soon after returning from space, Collins became pregnant. Her first child, Bridget, was born nine months later.[57][61]
STS-84
In August 1995, Collins was assigned to her second mission,
The STS-84 mission used the Space Shuttle
Atlantis lifted off from KSC on 15 May 1997. For Collins, it was the first and only time a launch had occurred without delays. Nor were there any leaking thrusters; Atlantis docked with Mir without incident the next day. This time, Collins felt no nausea. Crew members were exchanged, and 7,300 pounds (3,300 kg) of equipment, spare parts, experiments and supplies were transferred to Mir, of which 1,000 pounds (450 kg) was water.[65]
Collins spent most of the time filling bags with drinking water.[66] She also carried out a photographic survey of the exterior of Mir through portholes on Mir and the overhead windows on Atlantis's flight deck.[67] The Mir EO-23 mission commander, Vasily Tsibliyev produced a small bottle of Courvoisier cognac, and everyone had a couple of sips. Alcohol consumption was banned on the Space Shuttle, but not on Mir.[66] The rest of the mission was taken up conducting experiments. Collins photographed Comet Hale–Bopp, the brightest comet seen in the sky for many years.[68] Atlantis returned to KSC on 24 May after a flight lasting 9 days, 23 hours and 20 minutes.[65]
STS-93
The usual practice at this time was for a pilot astronaut to fly two missions as a pilot and then go on to command a mission. Collins had heard of the
The STS-93 mission was not routine. The Space Shuttle Columbia had to be used because its airlock was inside the crew compartment instead of the payload bay. This meant that it was the only orbiter that could accommodate the AXAF and the IUS. Initially scheduled for January 1999, the launch date was delayed due to an investigation of a failed USAF Titan IV launch using the IUS and problems that were discovered during testing of the AXAF (now named the Chandra X-ray Observatory). This pushed the launch date back to April and then to July, when Columbia was scheduled for fifteen months' maintenance in Palmdale, California.[72]
Because the AXAF weighed 30,852 pounds (13,994 kg) and the IUS weighed 12,930 pounds (5,860 kg), this was the heaviest payload ever launched by the Space Shuttle. To save weight, the crew was reduced to five members, and consumables to those needed for a five-day mission.
The launch day of 20 July 1999, coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the
There was no fuel leak; the sensor was faulty. The launch was rescheduled for two days later. It then had to be postponed a further day due to bad weather. On the third launch attempt, there was a seven-minute delay due to a communications problem, but Columbia lifted off at last on 23 July. One of the main engine controllers failed during takeoff, and one of the main engines cut out prematurely. As a result, the orbit reached was 7 miles (11 km) lower than intended but the situation could have been much worse; the engine problem was caused by a pin that had come loose and struck the nozzle, rupturing three liquid hydrogen coolant tubes. Had the controller not been faulty, it might have pumped more liquid oxygen and caused the engine to explode.[73][76] After the flight, faults were found not just in Columbia, but in Discovery and Endeavour as well, and the whole Space Shuttle fleet was grounded until December.[77]
Columbia eventually reached the proper orbit and the Chandra X-ray Observatory was successfully deployed. For the remainder of the mission, the crew used the Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System (SWUIS) to take ultraviolet images of the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.[73] Collins used the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) to talk to children on amateur radio stations with her call sign KD5EDS. On 27 July, Collins brought Columbia in for a night landing, the twelfth of the Space Shuttle program.[78] The flight had lasted 4 days, 22 hours and 50 minutes.[73] She was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission.[79]
After a flight astronauts usually carried out a publicity tour. Collins appeared with Coleman on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 16 August. She opened the New York Stock Exchange on 7 January 2000, and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show on 25 April 2000. She had a miscarriage in November 1999, but a son, Luke, was born in November 2000.[80]
STS-114
After the STS-84 mission, Collins had become the head of the Vehicle Systems Branch of the Astronaut Office, which she had renamed the Spacecraft Systems Branch, as the scope of its work now included the
The STS-114 mission involved docking Atlantis with the ISS to transfer crewmen and supplies. Jim Kelly was assigned as the mission's pilot and Stephen Robinson and Japanese JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi were assigned as mission specialists. The mission would take Expedition 7 to the ISS and bring Expedition 6 back. Some 1,100 cubic feet (31 m3) of supplies would be transferred to the ISS from the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, which would then be filled with experiments, equipment that was no longer required, and garbage to be returned to Earth. Three spacewalks were scheduled, to install an external stowage platform on the ISS Quest Joint Airlock and to replace a gyroscope that had failed. Collins was concerned about the proposed workload; she knew from her experience on STS-93 that a hectic schedule and pressure to get things done often resulted in mistakes.[82][83]
Problems discovered with the propellant feed lines on Atlantis and then on Discovery in June 2002 led to the entire Space Shuttle fleet being grounded again until October, pushing the launch date back to 6 March 2003. The fleet was then grounded again after the
She expressed reservations about the studs that held the Space Shuttle in place on the launch pad. The bolts holding them were supposed to be ruptured by explosive charges on lift off, but not all had done so on every mission; nuts had failed to rupture on one in five missions. If too many failed to separate, the result could be catastrophic. A new detonator system was devised, but would not be available for STS-114. She also had concerns about the booster separation motors that separated the SRBs from the orbiter. These were redesigned for STS-114. Finally, she expressed concern about rudder/speed brake (RSB) actuators. An inspection of the RSB actuators on Discovery revealed problems; these were rectified by taking parts from Endeavour. Since it would take a month to inspect Atlantis, Discovery was substituted for Atlantis for the STS-114 mission.[91]
Discovery was rolled out to the launch pad on 6 April 2005, but problems with the sensors in the external tank led to it being taken back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC to swap the external tank. This pushed the launch date back to 13 July. Then the same problem recurred, causing another postponement.[92] The mission was launched on 26 July 2005, after a flawless countdown.[85] Although Discovery was not damaged, video of the launch revealed that the problem with debris striking the Space Shuttle had not been resolved.[93] Ten pieces of foam had broken off the external tank during lift off, including a 92-by-279-by-17-centimeter (36.3 in × 110 in × 6.7 in) piece that was the largest ever recorded. This was the problem that had doomed Columbia, and it had evidently not been fixed.[94] Collins blamed herself for not pushing Michoud harder to effect changes.[95]
The STS-114 mission continued, as Discovery was already in orbit, but the Space Shuttle fleet was grounded again.[93] Collins became the first astronaut to fly an orbiter through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver. This was necessary so the astronauts aboard the ISS could take photographs of Discovery's belly to ensure there was no threat from debris-related damage to the orbiter upon reentry. It was a difficult maneuver, but one that she had practised many times in the simulator. She then flew under the ISS and docked with it.[96] The inspections revealed some concerns: gap fillers were protruding between some of the tiles, which could cause them to pop out during re-entry.[97] The three spacewalks and the transfer of supplies were carried out without problems.[85] On the third spacewalk, Robinson rode the robotic arm to the underside of Discovery and removed the two most prominent protruding gap fillers.[97]
Discovery was supposed to land at KSC on 8 August but unfavorable weather led to a postponement until the next day, and the landing site was changed to Edwards Air Force Base. Discovery touched down after a mission lasting 13 days, 21 hours and 33 minutes.[85] This time, Collins was unhappy with her landing, feeling that it was slightly fast. She was relieved to find that the tires were in good shape. Although she had felt well in space on this mission, her feet hurt as the bones moved back into position back on the ground, and the pain took two weeks to subside.[98]
Later life
Collins retired from the U.S. Air Force in January 2005 with the rank of colonel.[1] On 1 May 2006, NASA announced that she was leaving NASA to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests.[99] She had flown 6,751 hours in thirty different types of aircraft, and logged over 872 hours in space flights.[1]
After her retirement from the USAF and NASA, Collins served on the Board of Directors of USAA, a San Antonio banking and insurance company, from 2006 to 2021.[100][101] She remained involved with NASA, as chair of the Space Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council[102] from 2007 to 2011.[103]
Collins also made occasional public appearances as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings for
Awards and honors
As well as USAF Command Pilot (Astronaut) wings, Collins' awards and decorations include the
Collins was inducted into the National Women's Hall Of Fame in 1995,[117] the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009,[118] the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame on 19 April 2013,[119] and the Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas, on 6 May 2020.[120][121] She was recognized by the Encyclopædia Britannica as one of 300 women who have changed the world.[122]
An astronomical observatory—the
Publications
- Collins, Eileen M.; Ward, Jonathan H. (2021). Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission. New York: Arcade. OCLC 1281565457.
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Biographical Data: Eileen Marie Collins (Colonel, Ret.) NASA Astronaut (Former), USAF" (PDF). NASA. May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 2, 7.
- ^ Houston, Texas: NASA. 90-006 – via Wikisource.
- ISSN 0884-4240. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 8–11.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 2.
- ^ "Girl Scout Astronauts". NASA. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 22.
- ^ Adams, Frank S. (25 July 1943). "A Fighting Georgian". The New York Times. p. 40. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ Caidin, Martin (12 February 1961). "Lady Luck Is Co-Pilot". The New York Times. p. 133. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ Kosmicki, Joe (15 June 2022). "Astronaut visits Holy Family School". Catholic Courier. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 15–20.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 21–24.
- ^ "Catching Up With A&S Alumna and Astronaut Eileen Collins". A&S Magazine. Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences. Spring 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ a b Johnson, Kimberly (29 March 2022). "When Women Earned Their Wings: the USAF's First Crop of Female Pilots". Flying. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 24–27.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 24–30.
- ^ "This Day In Aviation History Graduation of The First 10 Female Air Force Pilots". Warbirds News. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 32–33.
- ^ a b "NASA astronaut Eileen Collins to deliver Syracuse University/ESF 2001 Commencement address". SU News. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Today in History – Syracuse University Graduate Eileen Collins Chosen as First Woman to Pilot Space Shuttle". Onondaga Historical Association. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 34–36.
- ^ Stoker, Peter; Hunter, David R.; Kantor, Jeffrey E.; Quebe, John C.; Siem, Frederick M. (August 1987). Flight Screening Program Effects on Attrition in Undergraduate Pilot Training (Report). Brooks Air Force Base, Texas: United States Air Force. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Wright, Kimberly L. (29 October 2010). "OTS salutes heritage with T-41 display". Air University. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 36–38.
- ^ a b Fisher, Cassidy (31 August 2021). "First female Space Shuttle commander left powerful legacy at Vance". Vance Air Force Base. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 48–52.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 52–59.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 59–62.
- ^ Carroll, Jennifer (14 March 2007). "Women's History Month honors unforgettable servicewomen". Vance Air Force Base. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 72–77.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 78–83.
- ^ a b Shayler & Moule 2006, p. 273.
- ^ a b "Chandra Press Room :: CXC Biographies :: Eileen Collins (Colonel, USAF)". Harvard University. July 1999. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 87–90.
- ^ a b Smith, Evan (1 July 2006). "Eileen Collins on what's ailing NASA". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 91–92.
- ^ Richter, Paul (17 January 1998). "Woman Faced Tough Odds in Botched Pilot Training". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 96–99.
- ^ USAF Test Pilot School 1994, p. 241.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 107–114.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 130.
- ^ Carr, Jeffrey (17 April 1989). "Deadline Set For Next Astronaut Selection" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ a b Carr, Jeffrey (8 September 1989). "Astronaut Class of 1990 Selection Underway" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-046. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 134.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 124–126.
- ^ Carr, Jeffrey (28 September 1989). "Second Group of Astronaut Hopefuls to Arrive at JSC" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-051. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 118.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 123.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 127–128.
- ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (10 October 2009). "Astronaut hopefuls don't mind being 'Chumps'". NBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 131–133.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 137–140.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 140–145.
- ^ a b c d e "STS-63". NASA. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 150–153.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 176, 180–181.
- ^ Funk, Wally. "The Mercury 13 Story". The Ninety-Nines. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 162–164.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 169–171.
- ^ Brady, James (12 March 2006). "In Step With... Eileen Collins". parade.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
- ^ a b Campion, Ed; Hawley, Eileen (22 August 1996). "Cosmonaut Kondakova Named to STS-84 Crew" (Press release). NASA. 96-171. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 181–183.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 184–186.
- ^ a b "STS-84". NASA. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, p. 192.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 195.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 197.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 205–206.
- ^ McCarter, Jennifer; Hawley, Eileen (5 March 1998). "Collins Named First Female Shuttle Commander" (Press release). NASA. 98-37. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 208–209.
- ^ a b c Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 210–214.
- ^ a b c d e "STS-93". NASA. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 218.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 221.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 226.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 234.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 228–233.
- ^ a b "Eileen Collins – Recipient". Military Times. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 236–237.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 238–240.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 240–241.
- ^ Garcia, Mark (11 February 2005). "NASA – STS-114 Commander Eileen Collins: From 'Soaring Capital of America' to the Space Shuttle". NASA. Archived from the original on 10 April 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 241–231.
- ^ a b c d "STS-114". NASA. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 258–260.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 262–263.
- ^ Houston 2013, p. 247.
- ^ Houston 2013, pp. 245–246.
- ^ Yardley, Jim (7 February 2003). "Loss of the Shuttle: The Next Crew; A Shuttle Leader is Ready 'to Go Fly Again'". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 260–261.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 264–266.
- ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 268–270.
- ^ Houston 2013, pp. 250–251.
- ^ Houston 2013, pp. 249–250.
- ^ Houston 2013, pp. 252–253.
- ^ a b Houston 2013, p. 254.
- ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 276–279.
- ^ Trinidad, Katherine; Peterson, Doug (1 May 2006). "NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins Completes Career of Space Firsts" (Press release). NASA. 06-208. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ White, Ed (14 April 2008). "Trailblazing astronaut is really down to earth". www.afspc.af.mil. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Air Force Space Command. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Mosbrucker, Kristen (11 November 2016). "Veteran leaders: A peek at the USAA board of directors' compensation". www.bizjournals.com. San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "NASA - Space Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council". www.nasa.gov. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 114th Congress". www.govinfo.gov. Washington, D.C. 25 February 2016. pp. 34–35. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ White, Glen (20 April 2013). "Space Shuttle Astronauts Curt Brown, Eileen Collins and Bonnie Dunbar Inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame". Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ "2001 Commencement Address". SU News. 13 May 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ Pavlich, Katie (20 July 2016). "Here is Wednesday's RNC Convention Schedule". Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (11 November 2016). "NASA Administrator Bridenstine? His name's in the mix for Trump's space team". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Historical Recipient List" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- American Academy of Achievement. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Eileen Collins Receives Free Spirit of the Year Award". NASA. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "2006 National Space Trophy Recipient". Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA). Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Women in Space Science Award Celebration" (PDF). Alder Planetarium. 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Symposium Awards". National Space Symposium. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "VFW Recognizes Col. Eileen Collins". Veterans of Foreign Wars. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ O'Connor, Kate (15 September 2022). "Eileen Collins To Receive 2022 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy". AVweb. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Home – National Women's Hall of Fame". National Women's Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 3 October 2002.
- ^ "Enshrinee Eileen Marie Collins". nationalaviation.org. National Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ Granath, Bob (20 April 2013). "Three Space Shuttle Astronauts Inducted into Hall of Fame". NASA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ "Lone Star Flight Museum Held a Virtual Ceremony for 2020 Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame Inductees". Lone Star Flight Museum. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Leinfelder, Andrea (10 January 2020). "Texas Aviation Hall of Fame announces 2020 inductees". chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "300 women who have changed the world - Eileen Collins". Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
- ^ "Collins Observatory". Salem State University. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Mariani, John (8 July 2011). "Space shuttle retirement prompts space veterans with Syracuse ties to ask, What's next?". Syracuse. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees at Webster University". 2020. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Herbert, Geoff (18 October 2021). "Pixar president, astronaut Eileen Collins, more to receive Syracuse University awards". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "First woman to pilot NASA space shuttle honoured by UCD". 13 June 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Colonel Eileen Collins, USAF (Ret.) to be Honored with 2022 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy" (PDF). National Aeronautic Association. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
References
- Houston, Rick (2013). Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program 1986-2011. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. OCLC 839395927.
- Shayler, David; Moule, Ian A. (2006). Women in Space – Following Valentina. New York: Springer. OCLC 218506039.
- USAF Test Pilot School (1994). USAF Test Pilot School 50th anniversary (1944-1994): 50 Years and Beyond. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Test Pilot School. OCLC 156912804.
Further reading
- Raum, Elizabeth (2006). Eileen Collins. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library. OCLC 58478502.