Eileen Collins, a name synonymous with breaking barriers in space exploration, has etched her legacy as the first woman to pilot and command a spacecraft. Her journey, chronicled in the documentary *Spacewoman*, reveals the determination and resilience that propelled her to the stars. From a young age, Collins dreamt of becoming an astronaut, inspired by the Gemini astronauts. Despite the absence of female astronauts at the time, she vowed to become a ‘lady astronaut.’ Her path to NASA was unconventional: she joined the military, became a test pilot, and eventually earned her place in the astronaut program. Collins made history in 1995 as the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle, a role she embraced with the weight of representing future generations of women in space. Her career was marked by groundbreaking achievements, including becoming the first female shuttle commander. Collins also navigated the challenges of balancing her career with motherhood, often highlighting that parenting was tougher than commanding a shuttle. Her leadership was tested during the aftermath of the Columbia disaster, where she took charge of the subsequent mission, demonstrating unwavering bravery. In 2005, during her final flight, Collins executed a daring maneuver to inspect and repair shuttle damage, ensuring her crew’s safe return. Now retired, Collins reflects on her career with pride, offering advice to aspiring astronauts: focus on education and determination. While she has no regrets about retiring, she admits she would seize the chance to return to space, even as an ‘old lady.’ Eileen Collins’ story is not just about space exploration but about shattering ceilings and inspiring generations to reach for the stars.
Nasa’s first female space commander: I didn’t want people to say ‘the woman made a mistake’
