Eileen Collins
Eileen Marie Collins born November 19, 1956 in Elmira, New York. Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. After graduating from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, Collins attended Corning Community College where she earned an associate degree in mathematics/science in 1976. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1978, then earned 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. Following graduation from Syracuse, she was one of four women chosen for undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Collins was selected to be an astronaut in 1992 and first flew the Space Shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard STS-63, which involved a rendezvous between Discovery and the Russian space station Mir. In recognition of her achievement as the first female Shuttle Pilot, she received the Harmon Trophy. On May 1, 2006, Collins announced that she would leave NASA to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests.[9] Since her retirement from NASA, she has made occasional public appearances as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings for CNN.
Spaceflights:
No. Mission Position Time Duration
1 STS-63 PLT 03.02. - 11.02.1995 8d 06h 28m
2 STS-84 PLT 15.05. - 24.05.1997 9d 05h 20m
3 STS-93 CDR 23.07. - 28.07.1999 4d 22h 50m
4 STS-114 CDR 26.07. - 09.08.2005 13d 21h 32m
Total 36d 08h 10m
