Tyler Junior College students and staff gathered Thursday afternoon to commemorate the college's centennial with a speech from former astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins. Collins, the first female space shuttle pilot and first female commander of a space shuttle mission, addressed the crowd at the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center, discussing her four spaceflight missions and the future of space travel. TJC invited Collins to “launch” the centennial celebration because she began her own education at a community college.
Dr. Juan E. Mejia, president of TJC, introduced Collins, highlighting her extensive career as a pilot, commander, and test pilot, and recognizing her as a leader, author, and philanthropist. To introduce Collins, Mitch Andrews, TJC Vice President and Institutional Advancement and Chief Advancement Officer, entered the stage in an astronaut costume, accompanied by the band, cheerleaders, drill team, and mascot.
Collins credited her start at SUNY Corning Community College in New York as a foundational step in her science career. She explained that attending community college allowed her to work part-time, care for her mother, save money, and mature. She also emphasized the quality of education and the dedication of professors at the community college. Collins earned her associate's degree in mathematics and science in 1976. She later pursued further education, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 1978, a Master of Science from Stanford University in 1986, and a Master of Arts from Webster University in 1989.
Collins encouraged students to consider the vast opportunities in the space industry, noting that every possible job “crosses the space industry somehow.” She underscored the importance of STEM fields, which are now a requirement for astronauts, but clarified that diverse professional backgrounds are needed throughout the industry. Growing up with limited financial resources, Collins developed her interest in aviation through books, a practice she recommended to the students, encouraging them to “put the phone down and get a really good book” to foster imagination, creativity, and self-discovery. She developed a fascination with aviation and science fiction in the fourth grade, drawing inspiration from biographies of people who achieved great things, like inventor Thomas Edison.
Driven by her passion, Collins took part-time jobs to save money for flying lessons. Despite initial nervousness about approaching a local airport, she made the call. She advised students that courage is often needed to take the first step towards a goal, suggesting preparation helps, but the key is to begin. This approach allowed her to accumulate flying time and apply to the Air Force. She became one of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force in 1978, serving 26 years and flying aircraft like the F15, TR1, and A7 before retiring as a colonel in January 2005.
NASA selected Collins as an astronaut candidate in January 1990, and she officially became an astronaut in July 1991 after completing her training. She highlighted the importance of humility in her field, which she saw as crucial for pilots to respect their aircraft, maintenance crews, designers, and support staff. Collins described humility not as weakness, but as being a good listener and open to different perspectives, a philosophy she learned from her father.
Throughout her career, Collins faced fear on multiple occasions, from near mid-air collisions to unexpected weather and mechanical issues. She recounted her interview for the astronaut program where she truthfully admitted experiencing fear. To manage these situations, she relied heavily on preparation, including a technique she called “chair flying,” where she would mentally rehearse emergency procedures. She stressed that preparation builds confidence and reduces fear, enabling pilots to react calmly without needing to consult a checklist in critical moments.
Collins made history during her space missions. She became the first woman to pilot a U.S. spacecraft during her STS-63 Discovery mission in 1995, which involved the first close rendezvous with the Russian space station. In 1999, she achieved another milestone, becoming the first female commander of a space shuttle mission during STS-93 Columbia, successfully deploying the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her final mission was commanding Discovery’s historic “Return to Flight” in 2005, the first mission after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003.
Collins concluded by emphasizing the critical role of preparation in any aspect of life or career. She stated that being prepared leads to less fear, a principle she applied throughout her missions to ensure the safety of her crew.
