[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 12 - 11:59:32 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Virtual Take Our Daughters to Work Day chat with Eileen Collins.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 13 - 11:59:41 ]
Astronaut Eileen Collins was the first woman ever selected to be a space shuttle pilot and the first woman to command a space shuttle. Join us as Commander Collins discusses her exciting career as a pilot and NASA astronaut.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 14 - 11:59:58 ]
And now, here is Eileen Colins to answer your questions.

[ EileenCollins - 15 - 12:00:22 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] Astronaut Eileen Collins was the first woman ever selected to be a space shuttle pilot and the first woman to command a space shuttle. Join us as Commander Collins discusses her exciting career as a pilot and NASA astronaut.
Hello everybody!

[ EileenCollins - 22 - 12:02:47 ]
RE: [Corissa] How different is flying a shuttle to flying a plane?
The space shuttle is a rocket, a space craft, and an airplane. In space, the shuttle flies much differently from an airplane. Small jet thrusters control the attitude. When the shuttle returns to Earth, it flies similar to a glider.

[ EileenCollins - 24 - 12:05:06 ]
RE: [EileenCollins] The space shuttle is a rocket, a space craft, and an airplane. In space, the shuttle flies much differently from an airplane. Small jet thrusters control the attitude. When the shuttle returns to Earth, it flies similar to a glider.
Space flight is a very human experience. The first major difference an astronaut feels is weightlessness. Another very unusual experience is viewing the Earth from space. These are two very unique and human aspects of space flight. Yes, I would fly in space again on a long duration flight of three months or more.

[ EileenCollins - 25 - 12:06:42 ]
RE: [Corissa] How much training do you have to go through before you are ready to fly a shuttle in space?
Training starts when you are in elementary school. It's important for astronauts to study math and science. Once a person is selected as an astronaut, it takes at least two years of training before that person is ready to fly.

[ EileenCollins - 27 - 12:08:37 ]
RE: [Peter] Mrs. Collins what would you say was it that made you stand out from all other candidates?
When NASA is selecting astronauts, we look for a variety of backgrounds and experiences. I noticed that no other astronauts had a college degree in Operations Research (the study of large analytical systems). I felt this part of my academic background would be helpful to the Space Program.

[ EileenCollins - 29 - 12:10:30 ]
RE: [Stacey] I read that you have one daughter. How difficult have you found it to balance a family with your career?
I really love being a mother and I really love my job as an astronaut. If you enjoy what you are doing, you'll find it much easier to excel at your job. I have a lot of support from my husband and my extended family. Without them, I would not be here today.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 30 - 12:11:21 ]
Participants, we are able to select a few questions at a time to post for Eileen Collins. We appreciate your patience, and will post as many questions as we can in the next 20 minutes.

[ EileenCollins - 33 - 12:12:45 ]
RE: [Challis/Idaho] Whats the best book you just read?
I enjoy reading books about flying, history, and specifically the history of the Space Program. Because I am a mother, I also enjoy reading books about child development.

[ EileenCollins - 35 - 12:15:10 ]
RE: [julia] how do they choose space shuttle commanders?
A Space Shuttle Commander normally flies first as a Space Shuttle pilot. Shuttle pilots are selected based on their flying experiences and academic experiences. It's very important to have experience in experimental flight test. On the academic side, it's important to have degrees in math, science, or engineering.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 36 - 12:17:17 ]
We invite you to share your comments about today's chat with us. Be sure to visit our QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats and submit your feedback to us.

[ EileenCollins - 39 - 12:18:31 ]
RE: [Brooke] Were people prejudice against you as a female while you were going through school to become a pilot?
I started flying when I was nineteen-years-old. I was very determined to earn my pilot's license and attend military flight school. I was very lucky to work with some wonderful men and women who were very accepting of my goals to be a pilot. At NASA, the safety and success of a mission is our number one priority, and people are not concerned whether their co-workers are men or women.

[ EileenCollins - 40 - 12:20:36 ]
RE: [Beatrice] How do your kids feel when you go up in space and how old is she?
I have one daughter who is now four-years-old. She was very young when I flew my last two flights. But I explained the Space Shuttle system to her and I was able to talk with her from space. She is just now beginning to understand my job.

[ EileenCollins - 44 - 12:23:16 ]
RE: [Alicia] Hello, Ms. Collins. I would like to know what gates you had to keep open as you progressed from being an ROTC cadet to where you are today. Thank you.
After graduation from college and ROTC, I needed to fly 1,000 hours in high performance jet aircraft. I also needed to earn a Masters degree and attend a military test pilot school to be competitive for the astronaut program. Fortunately the military provided me these opportunities, and after thirteen years in the Air Force, I was selected for the astronaut program.

[ EileenCollins - 46 - 12:25:52 ]
RE: [Holly] What advice would you give to kids that want to work at NASA when they grow up?
I would advise that you find a field of study that you enjoy and then pursue it. Because NASA is a highly technical organization, I encourage you to study math, science, engineering, or medicine. Also be sure to know how to work as part of a team because NASA's projects involve cooperation and teamwork.

[ EileenCollins - 47 - 12:27:28 ]
RE: [Ashley] What type of hobbies do you have or what do you like to do when you are not working?
I have always enjoyed reading, running, astronomy, and golf. Now that I have a child, I spend more time with her activities such as swimming and soccer.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 48 - 12:28:13 ]
We will be ending our chat with Eileen Collins in just a few minutes. For those of you leaving us, please send your n to us at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats.

[ EileenCollins - 49 - 12:29:47 ]
RE: [Stacey] I read that you met your husband while flying C-141s together. Do you still fly together?
Yes, I met my husband at Travis Air Force Base in California where we flew the C-141's together. In Colorado, we flew Cessna 172s together. He is now an airline pilot. Today, we don't have as many opportunities to fly together except for family trips on the airlines.

[ EileenCollins - 50 - 12:30:40 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] We will be ending our chat with Eileen Collins in just a few minutes. For those of you leaving us, please send your comments to us at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats
I enjoyed talking with all of you. Good luck in all your hopes and dreams. Reach for the stars!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 51 - 12:32:19 ]
We would like to thank Astronaut Eileen Collins for sharing her time with us today, and for her thoughtful responses to our questions.

[ Margret - 119 - 13:13:12 ]
We want to thank you for taking time to answer our questions and everyone here would like to wish you good luck on your space flight and also say hello to the other astronauts with you.

[ Ashley - 120 - 13:13:12 ]
Thanks Eileen for answering one of my questions. I really appreciate this opportunity and can't wait to tell my teacher and friends when I get back to school.

[ Peter - 123 - 13:13:12 ]
Mrs. Collins thank you for sharing your time with us. We DO appreciate it!