Eileen Marie Collins

Born: 1956

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Corning Community College AA Mathematics 1976; Syracuse University BA Mathematics & Economy 1978; Stanford University MS Operations Research 1986; Webster University MS Space Systems 1989; US Air Force Test Pilot School 1990

"“I wanted to be part of our nation’s space program. It’s the greatest adventure on this planet-or off the planet, for that matter. I wanted to fly the Space Shuttle.” (nasa.gov); “My advice to young people is, go into the field you are most interested in. If you love your job, you’ll do well in your job.” (nasa.gov); “I would like to see more people traveling to space someday. I would like to see space tourism blossom. It’s such an incredible experience.” (nasa.gov); “I want to do well because I know that I”m representing other women, other pilots, military pilots as well as civilian pilots who are hoping to come here to NASA and be pilots themselves for the space shuttle.” (womenofthehall.org); "We want to explore. We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore ... We believe in what we're doing. Now it's time to go." (marklarson.com); "

— Eileen Marie Collins

Field of Study: Astronaut

Institution/Corporation: NASA; USAF

Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Webster University (1996), University College of Dublin of the National University of Ireland (2006); Member of Boards of Directors: USAA (2006-21), Chair Space Operations Committee of NASA Advisory Council (2007-11); Member: Air Force Association, Order of Daedalians, Women Military Aviators, Women in Aviation International, US Space Foundation, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, the Ninety-Nines

Awards: 1983 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross; USAF Command Pilot (Astronaut) Wings; Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster; USAF Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster; NASA outstanding Leadership Medal; NASAA Exceptional Service Medal; 4 times NASA Flight Medals; 2001 Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement; Free Spirit Award; National Space Trophy; 2006 Adler Planetarium women in space Science Award; 2007 Space Foundation Douglas S. Murrow Public Outreach Award; 2020 Harmon Trophy; 2022 Wright Brothers Memorial trophy; 2013 US Astronaut Hall of Fame; 1995 Natioanl women's Hall of Fame; 2009 National Aviation Hall of Fame; 2020 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame; 2021 George Arents Award, Syracuse University; French Legion of Honor; 2001 N. Mexico Museum of Space History Inductee

Achievements: former flight instructor and test pilot; 1995 the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission (STS-93 1999); 1st pilot to fly the Space Shuttle orbiter through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver so astronauts aboard the ISS could take pictures of its belly to insure there was no threat from debris-related damage during re-entry; 1999 mission launched the Chandra X-ray Observatory & while in space for this mission she used the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) to talk to children on amateur radio stations; 2005 led the "Return to Flight" the 1st mission after the Columbia disaster