Jump to content

Eileen Collins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Gaff (talk | contribs) at 04:28, 30 June 2022 (Minor). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Eileen Collins
Born
Eileen Marie Collins

(1956-11-19) November 19, 1956 (age 67)
Elmira, New York, U.S.
StatusRetired
OccupationTest pilot
Space career
NASA Astronaut
Time in space
38d 08h 20m
Selection1990 NASA Group 13
MissionsSTS-63, STS-84, STS-93, STS-114
Mission insignia
RetirementMay 1, 2006
Military career
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1978–2005
Rank Colonel
Battles / warsUnited States invasion of Grenada
Awards

Eileen Marie Collins (born November 19, 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 Corning Community College, where she earned an associate degree in mathematics in 1976, and Syracuse University, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics in 1978, Collins was commissioned as an officer in the USAF through Syracuse's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She was one of four women chosen for Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. After earning her pilot wings, she stayed on at Vance for three years as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot before transitioning to the C-141 Starlifter at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the American invasion of Grenada in October 1983, her aircraft flew troops of the 82nd Airborne Division from Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina to Granada, and took thirty-six medical students back. From 1986 to 1989, she was an assistant professor in mathematics and a T-41 instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. She 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. In 1989, Collins became the second woman pilot to attend the USAF Test Pilot School, and she graduated with class 89B.

In 1990, Collins was selected to be a pilot astronaut with NASA Astronaut Group 13. She flew the Space Shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard STS-63, which involved a space rendezvous between Space Shuttle Discovery and the Russian space station Mir. In recognition of her achievement as the first female Shuttle Pilot, she received the Harmon Trophy. She was also the pilot for STS-84 in 1997. She became the first woman to command a US spacecraft with Shuttle mission STS-93, launched in July 1999, which deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and in 2005 she commanded STS-114, NASA's "return to flight" mission after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster to test safety improvements and resupply the International Space Station (ISS). During this mission she became the first astronaut to fly the Space Shuttle through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver. This was necessary so astronauts aboard the ISS could take photographs of the Shuttle's belly, to ensure there was no threat from debris-related damage to the Shuttle upon re-entry.

Early life

Eileen Marie Collins was born in Elmira, New York, on November 19, 1956.[1] Her parents were James Edward and Rose Marie Collins.[2][3] According to a speech she gave when she was inducted into the Irish American 2016 Hall of Fame, her ancestors came to America in the mid-1800s, settling in Pennsylvania and Elmira, New York.[4] She has three siblings: an older brother, Edward; a younger sister, Margaret; and a younger brother, James.[3] Her father served in the US Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war he ran the family bar, then became a surveyor, working for the city. Her parents separated when she was young, and her mother took a job as a stenographer at the Elmira Correctional Facility. As a child, she was shy and needed speech therapy for her stutter.[5] She participated in Girl Scouts,[6] and attended the El-Ne-Ho summer camp. She expressed an interest in flying and in being a pilot, reading books such as Fate Is the Hunter and God Is My Co-Pilot, and subscribing to Air Force Magazine.[7]

Collins attended St. Patrick's School in Elmira up to the eighth grade and then Notre Dame High School, a Catholic high school,[5] but Collins was unhappy there. The family home was badly damaged by flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, and with finances tight, she was able to convince her mother to allow her to transfer to Elmira Free Academy, a public high school. After graduating from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, Collins considered enlisting in the US Air Force, but her father was adamantly opposed.[8] Instead, she attended Corning Community College, where she earned an associate degree in mathematics in 1976. She then entered Syracuse University, which she chose because it had an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program.[9]

Around this time, the United States Air Force (USAF) changed its policy to allow women to train as pilot, although only for non-combat missions. The first ten women chosen for pilot training were all serving Air Force officers with four-year college degrees. Collins noted their names and followed their progress and subsequent careers with interest, hoping to someday follow in their footsteps.[10][11]

Six weeks after graduating from Corning, Collins reported to Rickenbacker Air Force Base for her basic training. In 1976, women had different fitness standards from the men, but Collins was granted permission to do the morning run with the men, who had to run 12 furlongs (2.4 km) in less than 12 minutes. The training included classes on the history of USAF and the theory of flight, a ride in a Fairchild C-123 Provider and a flight in a Cessna T-37 Tweet with an instructor. She took flying lessons in a Cessna 150 at Elmira Corning Regional Airport, eventually flying solo, but did not have time to complete all the requirements for a private pilot licence.[12]

In January 1978, Collins received orders to report to Offutt Air Force Base upon graduation from Syracuse, where she would become a computer systems engineer, a logical assignment for a mathematics major. 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, and offered to put her name forward for this. Collins eagerly accepted, but there was one hurdle: 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.[13] She graduated later that year with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and economics.[14][15]

Air Force career

Upon graduation from Syracuse, Collins was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the USAF. In August 1978, she received orders to report to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for the Flight Screening Program (FSP). She was one of four women in the class; there were ten men, of whom eight were from the Air National Guard and the other two were United States Air Force Academy graduates. The purpose of the FSP was to screen out unsuitable pilots before sending them to the more expensive Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) program. Collins was almost eliminated on medical grounds due to her left eye and a suspected heart murmur, but was cleared to fly. Training flights were conducted from nearby Hondo Municipal Airport in Cessna T-41 Mescalero aircraft.[16]

With her T-38 when she graduated from flight school at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in August 1979

For her UPT, Collins wanted to go to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, where the first ten women had trained,[10][17] 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.[17] On November 24, 1978, she became the first member of her class to fly solo.[18][19] In March 1979, the second phase of instruction began in the Northrop T-38 Talon, a jet trainer.[20] Finally, there was survival training and instruction in what to do if captured.[21] After earning her pilot wings, she stayed on at Vance for as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot. This involved Pilot Instructor Training (PIT), which was conducted at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.[22] She was the first woman to become a T-38 instructor pilot,[19] and only woman flight instructor at Vance between September 1979 and December 1982.[23]

Now a captain, Collins set her sights on becoming an astronaut. To achieve this goal, she aimed to graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School. Entry required at least one year as an aircraft commander in an operational aircraft and over one thousand hours flying time. She had already accumulated over a thousand hours flying as an instructor at Vance, but a trainer is not considered an operational aircraft. She requested an assignment flying the Convair F-106 Delta Dart, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II or Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. But women were still not permitted to fly combat aircraft, so she was assigned to from Travis Air Force Base in California, to fly the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, a transport aircraft that had been her 21st choice. Being a co-pilot seemed like a demotion after having been a flight instructor. She flew long-range missions to the Far East, to Pacific islands, to Greenland and Newfoundland, and to European destinations in support of the annual Exercise Reforger.[24]

With an F-4 Phantom II at Edwards Air Force Base on graduation from the USAF Test Pilot School in June 1990

During the American invasion of Grenada in October 1983, her aircraft flew troops of the 82nd Airborne Division from Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina to Granada, and took thirty-six medical students back. Although women were no supposed to fly in combat, the USAF gave her combat pay for the mission, and awarded her the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. After nine months as a co-pilot, she was upgraded to first pilot. After attending aircraft commander school at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and aerial refueling training, she was upgraded to aircraft commander in June 1984.[25]

From August 1986 to June 1989, Collins was assigned to the 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. Through the Air Force Institute of Technology, she earned a Master of Science in operations research from Stanford University in 1986,[26] and a Master of Arts in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.[2] She had begun dating a fellow C-141 pilot, James P. (Pat) Youngs, in August 1983.[2][27] Youngs was also posted to the Air Force Academy, as a golf instructor. After a long courtship, they were married on August 1, 1987.[28] They had two children.[29] 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.[30]

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 forced her to remain at the Air Force Academy for three years, and 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 for entered the USAF Test Pilot School, but a waiver was granted.[30] In the meantime, Captain Jacquelyn Susan "Jackie" Parker became the first woman to graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School in 1988.[31] Collins became the second woman pilot to attend when she joined Class 89B in June 1989.[32][33] She was also the most senior member of the class, as she was the only one with the rank of major, which made her the class leader.[32] At Edwards she flew a variety of aircraft, including the Lockheed TR-1, P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules, the de Havilland Canada UV-18 Twin Otter, the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, Learjet 24, Beechcraft King Air, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-111, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Vought A-7 Corsair II and the Goodyear Blimp.[34] She graduated in June 1990.[35]

Astronaut

Selection and training

Attending a survival training course at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

On April 17, 1989, the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it was selecting another class of astronauts.[36] Collins's application was one of nearly 2,500 received by the June 30, 1989, deadline, of which 1,945 met the minimum requirements for pilots or mission specialists.[37] Because she had not yet graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School, the USAF submitted her application as one for a mission specialist.[38] NASA convened a selection board chaired by the Director of Flight Crew Operations, Don Puddy, which also included Carolyn Huntoon, the Director of Life Sciences; Joseph Atkinson, the Chief of Equal Opportunity Programs;[37] and astronauts John Young, Charles Bolden, Hoot Gibson, Rhea Seddon, Jerry Ross and Mary Cleave.[39]

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 October 2, 1989.[40][41] 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.[42] On January 16, 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!"[43]

Near a NASA T-38 trainer jet at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Houston

Collins's selection as one of the twenty-three astronaut candidates (ASCANs) in NASA Astronaut Group 13.[2] She reported for duty at JSC on July 16, 1990, after graduating from the USAF Test Pilot School. She knew one other member of the group, who called themselves the "Hairballs", well: Susan Helms had been a fellow assistant professor at the Air Force Academy and graduate student at Stanford.[44] Pilot ASCANs honed their skills flying the T-38, an aircraft with which Collins was already familiar. They attended classes on the Space Shuttle and its systems, and trained in a low-fidelity simulator. land survival training was conducted at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, water survival training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, and parachute training at Vance Air Force Base. Although their training was intended to take a year, the ASCANs were moved on to operational roles after nine months. Collins was assigned to Orbiter Systems, with particular responsibility for the Space Shuttle's auxiliary power units.[45]

After nine months in this assignment, Collins was sent to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida as an astronaut support person (ASP), also known as a Cape Crusader. ASPs handled the checkout of the Space Shuttle systems in the hangar and on the launch pad. As members of the KSC closeout crew, they strapped the astronauts into their seats before takeoff, and helped them out again after landing. Collins spent sixteen months as an ASP, assisting with ten Space Shuttle missions between February 1992 and June 1993. After so long away from JSC, her skills in the simulator had become rusty, so the Chief of the Astronaut Office, Hoot Gibson, returned her to JSC for duty as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM).[46]

STS-63

At the pilot's station onboard Space Shuttle Discovery on flight day one of the STS-63 mission during a "hotfiring" procedure prior to rendezvous with the Russian Mir Space Station

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.[47] Delays in the flight schedule meant that she was the second last member of her class to fly in space.[48] 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.[49]

The STS-63 mission involved a space rendezvous between the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Russian space station Mir. This was the first time a Space Shuttle made an approach and fly around of Mir, although it did not dock. The crew included a cosmonaut, Vladimir Georgiyevich Titov, who had lived on Mir for a year. He became the second cosmonaut to fly on the Space Shuttle.[47] 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 Space Shuttle'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.[48] On Collins' invitation, seven of the surviving members of the Mercury 13 attended the launch on February 3, 1995.[50]

A series of thruster burns brought Discovery into line with Mir. The mission plan called for an approach to no less than 10 meters of Mir, followed by a flyaround. This was delayed by problems with three of the orbiter's 44 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters, which sprang leaks. Some, like one of the other leaking thrusters, could be shut off, but one, R1U, was required for rendezvous. Eventually all its contents le4aked into space it was safe to approach Mir.[47] In addition to the rendezvous with Mir, Discovery also carried the Spacehab module and the SPARTAN-204 astronomy satellite.[47] Collins had never experienced airsickness, but felt nauseous. This was remedied by a Phenergan shot, but it she only ate Chex on the first three days, only eating her dinner for the first time on the fourth.[51] Collins's responsibilities included running the Fluids Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus-1 (FGBA-1), a Coca-Cola dispensing machine. Astronauts rated control samples before and after flight.[52] Discovery landed back at KSC on February 11, 1995, after 8 days, 6 hours and 28 minutes in flight.[47]

Soon after returning from space, Collins became pregnant. Her first child, Bridget, was born nine month's later.[49]

STS-84

In front of the overhead flight deck windows where the Mir Space Station is visible during the STS-84 mission

In August 1995, Collins was assigned to her second mission, STS-84. This mission would dock with Mir, leave astronaut Michael Foale behind for a four month stay, and return with astronaut Jerry Linenger at the conclusion of his stay on Mir. Foale had been with Collins on the STS-63 mission. This time the cosmonaut on the mission would be Yelena Kondakova, who had spent 169 days on Mir between October 1994 to March 1995 as part of the Mir EO-17 mission. Collins had glimpsed her during the STS-63 mission. The mission commander, Charles Precourt, spoke Russian fluently. The crew also included a French ESA astronaut, Jean-François Clervoy.[53][54]

The STS-84 mission would use the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which had a reputation as the least troublesome Space Shuttle, and would carry two Spacehab modules instead of just one.[53][54] In preparation for the mission, Collins completed one hundred hours of Russian language classroom training, but she usually relied on Precourt translating for her. The crew traveled to Star City to study Mir's systems and had dinner at the home of Kondakova and her husband, cosmonaut Valeri Ryumin, now the president of Energia, the Russian space agency.[55]

Atlantis lifted off from KSC on May 15, 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 on May 16. 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.[56] 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.[57] Atlantis returned to KSC on May 24 after a flight lasting 9 days, 23 hours and 20 minutes.[56]

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 Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) and indicated to the Chief of the Astronaut Office, Bob Cabana, that she was interested in flying the mission to deploy it. A few months later, JSC deputy director Jim Wetherbee and director George Abbey informed her that she was to be assigned to the mission,[58] which was designated STS-93. This would be the first time that a woman commanded a Space Shuttle Mission, so the official announcement of her assignment was made by the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 5, 1998,[59]

With President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on October 29, 1998.

Collins was given Jeffrey Ashby, a rookie astronaut, as her pilot. To deploy the AXAF, she had NASA mission specialist astronaut Cady Coleman and French CNES astronaut Michel Tognini. Originally, Winston Scott was to be the second mission specialist, but NASA headquarters wanted an astronomer with experience with the inertial upper stage (IUS) that would deploy the AXAF. Steven Hawley was the only available astronaut who met both these requirements. Hawley was a very senior astronaut who had been selected with NASA Astronaut Group 8 in 1978, and had helped deploy the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and service it in 1996. Collins was apprehensive that Hawley would attempt to command the mission. Her fears proved groundless; Hawley proved to be a fine crew member who offered wisdom and advice but made no attempt to interfere with Collins's command of the mission.[60]

The STS-93 mission was not a routine mission. 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 Space Shuttle 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 Astrophysics Facility). This pushed the launch date back to April and then to July, when Columbia was scheduled for maintenance in Palmdale, California. If the launch date slipped any further the mission would have to be delayed by another fifteen months.[61]

Because the AXAF weighed 30,852 pounds (13,994 kg) and the IUS weighed 12,930 pounds (5,860 kg), this would be 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.[61] This made it the shortest scheduled mission since 1990.[62] Two of the five pairs of tanks holding hydrogen and oxygen for the fuel cells removed, as was the robotic arm, so any problems had to be resolved in the payload bay, as the Chandra could not be retrieved. The large mass affected Columbia's center of gravity, rendering a landing after an emergency abort extremely hazardous.[61]

At the commander's station on Space Shuttle Columbia on the first day of the STS-93 mission

The launch day of July 20, 1999, coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, so former astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were at KSC to watch the launch. Observers also included Hilary Clinton and the United States women's national soccer team, who had recently won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.[63] The launch countdown proceeded smoothly until Columbia's hazardous gas detection system highlighted an unacceptably high hydrogen concentration of in the aft engine compartment, and the countdown was halted less than half a second before the Space Shuttle main engines (SSMEs) were to have started.[62] Had this occurred, the engines would have had to be replaced, which would have taken a month, and the mission would then have been delayed for another fifteen.[64]

There was no fuel leak; the sensor was faulty. The launch rescheduled for two days' time. 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 July 23. 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. It could have been much worse; the problem was caused by a pin that had come loose and struck the engine 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.[62][65] 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.[66]

Columbia eventually reached the proper orbit, the Chandra X-ray Observatory was successfully deployed. During the remainder of the mission, the crew used the Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System (SWUIS) was used to take ultraviolet images of the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.[62] Collins used out the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) to talk to children on amateur radio stations with her call sign KD5EDS. On July 27, Collins brought Columbia in for a night landing, the twelfth of the Space Shuttle program. The touchdown at KSC was the most precise ever.[67] The flight had lasted 4 days, 22 hours and 50 minutes.[62]

After a flight astronauts usually carried out a publicity tour. Collins appeared with Coleman on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 16. She opened the New York Stock Exchange on January 7, 2000, and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show on April 25, 2000. She had a miscarriage in November 1999, but a son, Luke, was born in November 2000.[68]

STS-114

With the STS-114 crew on their way to launch pad.

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 International Space Station (ISS) as well as the Space Shuttle. She relinquished this position on being assigned to command STS-93. After returning from that mission, she became the chief information officer at the Astronaut office. In that role she automated the scheduling system, an initiative of the new Chief of the Astronaut Office, Charles J. Precourt. She then became the chief of the Space Shuttle Branch, remaining in this role until November 2000, when she left on maternity leave. On returning to work in January 2001, she became the chief of the Safety Branch vice Rick Husband, who left to command the STS-107 mission. In turn, Collins handed over the position to Dom Gorie when she was assigned to command STS-114 in late 2001. [69]

The STS-114 mission involved docking Atlantis with the ISS to transfer crewmen and supplies. Jim "Vegas" Kelly as her pilot and Stephen Robinson and Japanese JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi 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.[70]

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 March 6, 2003. The fleet was then grounded again after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003.[71] STS-114 now became NASA's "return to flight" mission to test safety improvements in addition to resupplying the ISS.[72] The crew remained the same, but instead of the ISS expedition crew members, STS-114 would take three additional mission specialists to handle the greater workload: Andy Thomas to coordinate the spacewalks and Wendy Lawrence to operate the robotic arm,[73] which was equipped with specialized cameras so that the Space Shuttle could be surveyed for damage.[74] STS-114 was already scheduled to be the next mission flown, but it is unlikely that it would have remained so if Collins and Kelly had not already flown a mission as commander and pilot respectively. Yet Collins pushed for at least one rookie astronaut to be assigned to the flight, and Charles J. Camarda was added.[75]

Floating in the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station while the Space Shuttle Discovery was docked

Rick Hauck, who had commanded the return to flight mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, advised her to visit the contractors where the Space Shuttle components were made. She visited the Rockwell International plant in Canoga Park, California, where the SSMEs were refurbished, the Thiokol factory in Brigham City, Utah, where the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) were made, and the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Space Shuttle external tank was assembled, including ET-93, the one that shed a piece of insulation foam that had doomed Columbia, and ET-120, which was being assembled for the STS-114 mission.[76]

Asked if she felt even a twinge of fear after the loss of Columbia Collins replied: "I would have to say no. I want to fly again. I am very mentally ready to go fly again." Then pausing, noting that she wanted to be precise, she added "I am mentally ready to go fly again when the shuttle is cleared to fly."[77] 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. In fact, nuts had failed to rupture on one in five mission. 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 resigned for the 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.[78]

Discovery was rolled out to the launch pad on April 6, 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 July 13. Then the same problem recurred, causing another postponement.[79] The mission was launched on July 26, 2005, after a flawless countdown.[72] Although Discovery was not damaged, video of the launch revealed that the problem with debris striking the Space Shuttle had not been resolved.[80] 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.[81] Collins blamed herself for not pushing Michoud harder to effect changes.[82]

The STS-114 mission continued, as the Discovery was already in orbit, but the Space Shuttle fleet was grounded again.[80] Collins became the first astronaut to fly a Space Shuttle through a complete 360-degree pitch maneuver. This was necessary so the astronauts aboard the ISS could take photographs of the Discovery's belly to ensure there was no threat from debris-related damage to the Shuttle 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.[83] The inspections did reveal some concerns: gap fillers were protruding between some of the tiles, which could cause them to pop out during re-entry.[84] The three spacewalks and the transfer of supplies was carried out without problems.[72] On the third spacewalk, Robinson rode the robotic arm to the underside of Discovery and removed the two most prominent protruding gap fillers.[84] Discovery was supposed to land at KSC on August 8, but unfavorable weather led to a postponement until August 9, and then to the landing site being changed to Edwards Air Force base.[72] 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 good 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.[85]

Later life

Speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention

Collins retired from the USAF in January 2005 with the rank of colonel.[1] On May 1, 2006, NASA announced that she would leave NASA to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests.[86] She had flown 6,751 hours in thirty different types of aircraft, and logged over 872 hours in space flights.[1]

Since her retirement, Collins has made occasional public appearances as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings for CNN.[87] She was the commencement speaker at the 148th commencement of Syracuse University in May 2001.[14][88] She addressed the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, On July 20, 2016,[89] leading to speculation that she would be appointed NASA administrator under Donald Trump,[90] and was the keynote speaker at the 6th annual Roger That! event on February 19, 2022.[91]

Awards and honors

Collins's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit,[92] the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with an oak leaf cluster,[1] the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and four NASA Space Flight Medals.[93] She received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 2001;[94] the Free Spirit Award,[95] National Space Trophy,[96] and Adler Planetarium Women in Space Science Award in 2006;[97] the Space Foundation Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in 2007;[98] and the Harmon Trophy in 2020.[99]

Collins was inducted into the National Women's Hall Of Fame in 1995,[100] the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame on April 19, 2013,[101] and the Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas on May 6, 2021.[102][103] She has been recognized by the Encyclopædia Britannica as one of 300 women who have changed the world.[104]

An astronomical observatory—the Eileen Collins Observatory run by Corning Community College—has named in her honor,[105] as has the main entrance boulevard to Syracuse Hancock International Airport.[106] Her alma mater, Webster University, awarded her an honorary Doctor of Science in 1996,[107] and in 2021, she received Syracuse University's highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award.[108][109] University College Dublinof the National University of Ireland also conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree on her on June 14, 2006.[110]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Biographical Data: Eileen Marie Collins (Colonel, Ret.) NASA Astronaut (Former), USAF" (PDF). NASA. May 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Carr, Jeffrey (January 17, 1990). "1990 Astronaut Candidates Selected" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 90-006. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, p. 2.
  4. ^ "Col. Eileen Collins's 2016 Hall of Fame Speech". Irish America. April 2016. ISSN 0884-4240. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 8–11.
  6. ^ "Girl Scout Astronauts". NASA. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  7. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 22.
  8. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 15–20.
  9. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 21–24.
  10. ^ a b Johnson, Kimberly (March 29, 2022). "When Women Earned Their Wings: the USAF's First Crop of Female Pilots". Flying. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 24–27.
  12. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 24–30.
  13. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 32–33.
  14. ^ a b "NASA astronaut Eileen Collins to deliver Syracuse University/ESF 2001 Commencement address". SU News. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "Today in History – Syracuse University Graduate Eileen Collins Chosen as First Woman to Pilot Space Shuttle". Onondaga Historical Association. March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  16. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 34–36.
  17. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 36–38.
  18. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 45.
  19. ^ a b Fisher, Cassidy (August 31, 2021). "First female Space Shuttle commander left powerful legacy at Vance". Vance Air Force Base. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  20. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 48–51.
  21. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 52–59.
  22. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 59–62.
  23. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 69.
  24. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 72–77.
  25. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 78–83.
  26. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 87–90.
  27. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 85–86.
  28. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 91.
  29. ^ Brady, James (March 12, 2006). "In Step With... Eileen Collins". parade.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  30. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 91–92.
  31. ^ Richter, Paul (January 17, 1998). "Woman Faced Tough Odds in Botched Pilot Training". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  32. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 96–99.
  33. ^ USAF Test Pilot School 1994, p. 241.
  34. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 107–114.
  35. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 130.
  36. ^ Carr, Jeffrey (April 17, 1989). "Deadline Set For Next Astronaut Selection" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  37. ^ a b Carr, Jeffrey (September 8, 1989). "Astronaut Class of 1990 Selection Underway" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-046. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  38. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 134.
  39. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 124–126.
  40. ^ Carr, Jeffrey (September 28, 1989). "Second Group of Astronaut Hopefuls to Arrive at JSC" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 89-051. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  41. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 118.
  42. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 123.
  43. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 127–128.
  44. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 131–133.
  45. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 137–140.
  46. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 140–145.
  47. ^ a b c d e "STS-63". NASA. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  48. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 150–153.
  49. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 176, 180–181.
  50. ^ Funk, Wally. "The Mercury 13 Story". The Ninety-Nines. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  51. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 162–164.
  52. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 169–171.
  53. ^ a b Campion, Ed; Hawley, Eileen (August 22, 1996). "Cosmonaut Kondakova Named to STS-84 Crew" (Press release). NASA. 96-171. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  54. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 181–183.
  55. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 184–186.
  56. ^ a b "NASA – STS". 84. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  57. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 197.
  58. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 205–206.
  59. ^ McCarter, Jennifer; Hawley, Eileen (March 5, 1998). "Collins Named First Female Shuttle Commander" (Press release). NASA. 98-37. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  60. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 208–209.
  61. ^ a b c Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 210–214.
  62. ^ a b c d e "STS-93". NASA. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  63. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 218.
  64. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 221.
  65. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 226.
  66. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, p. 234.
  67. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 228–233.
  68. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 236–237.
  69. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 238–240.
  70. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 240–241.
  71. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 241–231.
  72. ^ a b c d "STS-114". NASA. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  73. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 258–260.
  74. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 262–263.
  75. ^ Houston 2013, p. 247.
  76. ^ Houston 2013, pp. 245–246.
  77. ^ Yardley, Jim (February 7, 2003). "Loss of the Shuttle: The Next Crew; A Shuttle Leader is Ready 'to Go Fly Again'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  78. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 260–261.
  79. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 264–266.
  80. ^ a b Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 268–270.
  81. ^ Houston 2013, pp. 250–251.
  82. ^ Houston 2013, pp. 249–250.
  83. ^ Houston 2013, pp. 252–253.
  84. ^ a b Houston 2013, p. 254.
  85. ^ Collins & Ward 2021, pp. 276–279.
  86. ^ Trinidad, Katherine; Peterson, Doug (May 1, 2006). "NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins Completes Career of Space Firsts" (Press release). NASA. 06-208. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  87. ^ Garcia, Mark. "NASA – STS-114 Commander Eileen Collins: From 'Soaring Capital of America' to the Space Shuttle". NASA.
  88. ^ "2001 Commencement Address". SU News. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  89. ^ Pavlich, Katie. "Here is Wednesday's RNC Convention Schedule".
  90. ^ Foust, Jeff (November 11, 2016). "NASA Administrator Bridenstine? His name's in the mix for Trump's space team". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  91. ^ "'Roger That!' event focuses on women in STEM". February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  92. ^ "Eileen Collins – Recipient". Military Times. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  93. ^ "Historical Recipient List" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  94. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  95. ^ "Eileen Collins Receives Free Spirit of the Year Award". NASA. March 22, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  96. ^ "2006 National Space Trophy Recipient". Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA). Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  97. ^ "Women in Space Science Award Celebration" (PDF). Alder Planetarium. 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  98. ^ "Symposium Awards". National Space Symposium. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  99. ^ "VFW Recognizes Col. Eileen Collins". Veterans of Foreign Wars. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  100. ^ "Home – National Women's Hall of Fame". National Women's Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002.
  101. ^ Granath, Bob (April 20, 2013). "Three Space Shuttle Astronauts Inducted into Hall of Fame". www.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  102. ^ "Lone Star Flight Museum Held a Virtual Ceremony for 2020 Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame Inductees". Lone Star Flight Museum. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  103. ^ Leinfelder, Andrea (January 10, 2020). "Texas Aviation Hall of Fame announces 2020 inductees". chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  104. ^ "Britannica page \access-date=January 17, 2007". Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  105. ^ "Collins Observatory". Salem State University. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  106. ^ Mariani, John (July 8, 2011). "Space shuttle retirement prompts space veterans with Syracuse ties to ask, What's next?". Syracuse. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  107. ^ "Honorary Degrees at Webster University". Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  108. ^ Herbert, Geoff (October 18, 2021). "Pixar president, astronaut Eileen Collins, more to receive Syracuse University awards". The Post-Standard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  109. ^ "Arents Award". Syracuse University. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  110. ^ "First woman to pilot NASA space shuttle honoured by UCD". June 2006.

References

  • Collins, Eileen M.; Ward, Jonathon H. (2021). Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission. New York: Arcade. ISBN 978-1-950994-05-2. OCLC 1281565457.
  • Houston, Rick (2013). Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program 1986-2011. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-08032-3534-2. OCLC 839395927.
  • 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eileen Collins.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eileen_Collins&oldid=1095751699"