First female NASA mission commander scheduled for speaker series

Eileen Collins, retired NASA astronaut (Photo/NASA) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The first woman astronaut to pilot a NASA space shuttle and later command a shuttle mission will speak from 7-9 p.m. Thursday (March 29) at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. 

Eileen Collins, retired astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is expected to talk about her successes and failures as well as offer insight into her experiences, not only as an astronaut but as an Air Force test pilot.

Collins’ appearance is part of a speaker series coordinated by the Purdue Student Union Board. The event is free and open to the public.

Chelsea Harris, program advisor for the Purdue Student Union Board, said Collins will participate in a meet and greet for 30 minutes in the entry to Loeb Playhouse following her presentation.

The 61-year-old Collins was selected for the NASA astronaut program while attending the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Collins became an astronaut in July 1991 and was involved in four missions aboard the space shuttles Discovery, Atlantis and Columbia between 1995 and 2005, logging more than 800 hours in space.

Aboard the Discovery mission in February 1995, Collins was the first woman pilot of a NASA space shuttle. In July 1999, Collins became the first commander of a shuttle mission as she oversaw the Columbia shuttle flight.

Collins also commanded the 2005 “Return to Flight” shuttle mission aboard Discovery following the 2003 loss of the space shuttle Columbia.

In addition, Collins logged more than 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft before retiring from the Air Force in 2005.

State Street Redevelopment Project construction is in process. This work is closing portions of Stadium Avenue, McCormick Road, Airport Road and Williams Street and significantly affecting surrounding thoroughfares in West Lafayette.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

Source: Chelsea Harris, 765-494-8981, harris648@purdue.edu