Eileen Marie Collins is a retired spacewoman from NASA and a retired Colonel from the United States Air Force, a test pilot and an instructor in the defense. She is also the first female pilot and leader of Space Craft.

Collins has completed 38 days, 8 hours and 20 minutes in space.

Early Life

Eileen Collins was born to the couple James E and Rose Marie Collins. They migrated from County Cork, Ireland. She has three siblings. She was a Girl Scout and showed importance to space flight and desired to become a pilot. She was born on November 19, 1956.

Education

In 1974, Eileen Collins graduated from Elmira Free Academy. She got the associate degree in mathematics/science from Corning Community College in 1976. She obtained a bachelor of in Mathematics and economics from the Syracuse University in 1978. She got a Master of Science degree in Operations research from Stanford University in 1986. She earned a master’s degree in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.

The Elmira College awarded the honorary Doctor of Science to Collins in June 2006

University College Dublin has also awarded the honorary Doctor of Science degree of the National University of Ireland in June 2006.

Career

Eileen Collins enrolled for Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. After obtaining Pilot Wings, she worked in Vance for three years as an instructor pilot. She moved to Travis Air Force Base, California. Collins moved to Starlifter Academy in Colorado where she worked as assistant professor in mathematics and instructor pilot. She attended the US Air Force School in 1989 and obtained 89B. NASA appointed her as an astronaut in1990.

Collins was pilot of the Space Craft of STS 63 in 1990. She was also the first female Shuttle Pilot. She achieved the Harmon Trophy. Collins was the pilot for STS-84 in 1997.

She commanded the US spacecraft mission STS -93 hurled in July 1999 which organized the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

She commanded the STS-114 assignment to study the safety precautions in International Space Station. This trip was propelled in July 2005 and came back in August 2005. She was the first commander to fly the spacecraft full one circle and took pictures for technical reasons. She stepped down from her assignment in May 2006.

Eileen Collins gave a lecture at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. She is supposed to take the responsibilities of the administrator of NASA under President Trump.

Awards

Eileen Collins has received some awards during her service in Airforce and NASA.

An astronomical laboratory was named after her – the Eileen M. Collins Observatory administered by Corning Community College.

Collins was nominated to the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Encyclopedia Britannica has documented her as one of the top 300 women in the history in the world

The pathway to Syracuse Hancock International Aircraft has been named in honor of Collins.

Collins' work has been recognized by the New York State Legislature, and a declaration has been made and was supported by Senator George Winner in May 2006.

She has received many recognitions as well.

Personal Life

Eileen Collins married pilot Pat Youngs in 1987, and the couple has two children.