Eileen Collins Astronaut/and First Female Space Shuttle Pilot and Commander

by Henry M. Holden

Overview

One reason Eileen Collins became the first woman Space Shuttle pilot is her heavy background in mathematics and science. She says that traditionally, women have not been encouraged to major in these subjects and feels that when more do, there will be more opportunities opened to them.
Although the U.S. Navy accepted women as pilots in 1974, the U.S. Air Force did not until 1976. In 1976, when Collins was a college sophomore, the Air Force announced it would begin training women as pilots. NASA followed suit in 1978, and began accepting women into the shuttle program – just about the time Collins was deciding what to do with her life.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940014117500
Publisher:	Black Hawk Publishing Co.
Publication date:	02/05/2012
Series:	Great Women in Aviation , #5
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	48 KB

About the Author

Henry M. Holden is an aviation historian and author.
In 1994, Mr. Holden was cited in the United States Congressional Record for his work in recording the history of American women in aviation, and was the recipient of the Author's Award from the New Jersey Institute of Technology for his book Her Mentor Was An Albatross - The Autobiography of Pioneer Pilot Harriet Quimby.
In 1996, he launched the Women in Aviation Resource Center, an online repository of educational, historical, and networking resources for women interested in all aspects of aviation. In 2010 Henry was awarded the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award.
He is the author of over 900 magazine and newspaper articles appearing in national magazines such as Private Pilot, Plane & Pilot, Airport Journals, World Airnews, USAir, In-Flight-USA, American Aviation Historical Society's Journal, Women in Aviation, Woman Pilot, Airport Press and Aviation History, Vintage Airplane, Warbirds, Sport Aviation, and Upscale Living Magazine. He has been a commentator on the History Channel, and has published 39 books.
The original founder of the DC-3/Dakota Historical Society, Henry is a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame (New Jersey), Women in Aviation International, AOPA, and EAA.
Mr. Holden speaks at various events around the country and is available as a guest lecturer. His work has been the subject of a number of radio and cable television shows in New Jersey, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State.
Henry Holden is formerly the News Editor East for Airport Journals and was a regular monthly contributor to the paper.