NASA ASTRONAUT EILEEN COLLINS COMPLETES CAREER OF SPACE FIRSTS

May 1, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-3749

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(281) 483-5111

RELEASE: 06-208

NASA ASTRONAUT EILEEN COLLINS COMPLETES CAREER OF SPACE FIRSTS

Astronaut Eileen Collins is leaving NASA. Collins was the first woman
to command a space shuttle and the leader of Discovery's Return to
Flight mission last year. She plans to pursue private interests and
spend more time with family.

"Eileen Collins is a living, breathing example of the best that our
nation has to offer," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "She
is, of course, a brave, superb pilot and a magnificent crew
commander. Beyond those qualities, she is both very bright and
modestly self-effacing about that fact. And above all, she is
possessed of a quiet determination to attain the very highest levels
of accomplishment. I am proud to know her and will greatly miss her
at NASA."

A veteran of four space flights, Collins' career at NASA has been
punctuated by firsts. She was the first woman selected as a pilot
astronaut, the first woman to serve as a shuttle pilot and the first
woman to command a U.S. spacecraft.

"Eileen is a true pioneer in space and on Earth," said Mike Coats,
director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. "Her service and
dedication to her country, to NASA and to space exploration are an
inspiration. She meets every challenge with confidence and an
ever-present smile."

Collins was selected as an astronaut in 1990. She served as the pilot
on mission STS-63 in February 1995, the first shuttle mission to
rendezvous with the Russian Mir Space Station. In May 1997, she flew
as pilot on mission STS-84, the sixth shuttle flight to dock to Mir.
Collins commanded the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-93 in
July 1999, the flight that launched the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

Her most recent space flight was as commander of July's STS-114
mission, the first shuttle flight since the Columbia accident in
2003. During the 14-day mission, Collins and her six-member crew
tested new shuttle safety enhancements and resupplied the
International Space Station.

"Eileen is a gifted leader who knows what it takes to get a team
through the most difficult of times," said Flight Crew Operations
Director Ken Bowersox. "All of us will feel Eileen's absence, but
regardless of the path she pursues after leaving NASA, I know she
will continue to exert a positive influence on the explorers of today
and tomorrow."

For additional biographical information about Collins, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For information about NASA's shuttle program and the next mission,
STS-121, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


-end-


--
--------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.nl

Of course, she has had quite a lot of personal tragedy in her life quite
recently, and also, what else can you do, when you have done it all?

Brian

--
Brian's Gmail account

Downstairs.
"Jacques van Oene" wrote in message
. ..
May 1, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-3749

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(281) 483-5111

RELEASE: 06-208

NASA ASTRONAUT EILEEN COLLINS COMPLETES CAREER OF SPACE FIRSTS

Astronaut Eileen Collins is leaving NASA. Collins was the first woman
to command a space shuttle and the leader of Discovery's Return to
Flight mission last year. She plans to pursue private interests and
spend more time with family.

"Eileen Collins is a living, breathing example of the best that our
nation has to offer," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "She
is, of course, a brave, superb pilot and a magnificent crew
commander. Beyond those qualities, she is both very bright and
modestly self-effacing about that fact. And above all, she is
possessed of a quiet determination to attain the very highest levels
of accomplishment. I am proud to know her and will greatly miss her
at NASA."

A veteran of four space flights, Collins' career at NASA has been
punctuated by firsts. She was the first woman selected as a pilot
astronaut, the first woman to serve as a shuttle pilot and the first
woman to command a U.S. spacecraft.

"Eileen is a true pioneer in space and on Earth," said Mike Coats,
director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. "Her service and
dedication to her country, to NASA and to space exploration are an
inspiration. She meets every challenge with confidence and an
ever-present smile."

Collins was selected as an astronaut in 1990. She served as the pilot
on mission STS-63 in February 1995, the first shuttle mission to
rendezvous with the Russian Mir Space Station. In May 1997, she flew
as pilot on mission STS-84, the sixth shuttle flight to dock to Mir.
Collins commanded the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-93 in
July 1999, the flight that launched the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

Her most recent space flight was as commander of July's STS-114
mission, the first shuttle flight since the Columbia accident in
2003. During the 14-day mission, Collins and her six-member crew
tested new shuttle safety enhancements and resupplied the
International Space Station.

"Eileen is a gifted leader who knows what it takes to get a team
through the most difficult of times," said Flight Crew Operations
Director Ken Bowersox. "All of us will feel Eileen's absence, but
regardless of the path she pursues after leaving NASA, I know she
will continue to exert a positive influence on the explorers of today
and tomorrow."

For additional biographical information about Collins, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For information about NASA's shuttle program and the next mission,
STS-121, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


-end-


--
--------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.nl