The Science Zone at Pyrkon to host a true NASA legend – astronaut Eileen Collins!

25 November 2025

Eileen Collins: an astronaut and an incredible inspiration

She is without a doubt one of the most admired women in all of America. Her career path is nothing short of impressive. In 1995 Collins became the first woman to pilot a US space shuttle – the Discovery. In 1999, during the Columbia space shuttle mission, she was the first woman to command a space mission. 2005 was another breakthrough year for her, as NASA entrusted her with commanding the historic „Return to Flight” mission on the Discovery space shuttle – this was NASA’s first manned flight after losing Columbia in February 2003.

Having logged a total of 872 hours in space, Collins has earned a reputation for maintaining composure under pressure. With the same composed confidence, she discusses how her career as an astronaut unfolded—from her early days in the U.S. Air Force to her groundbreaking experiences at NASA. Her memoir, Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars, was published in 2021. In 2022 colonel Collins was awarded the National Aeronautic Association’s Wright Brothers Award for her exceptional career as an astronaut, teacher and leader. She was also named one of the Living Legends of Aviation in 2025.

Colonel Eileen Collins stands out for sharing valuable lessons she’s learned from both successes and failures. She discusses the importance of collaboration, without which it would have been difficult to achieve such ambitious goals, and the importance of effective leadership in such dynamic environments (and the cosmos certainly is dynamic). Her perspective encourages every one of us to embark on our own unique path. 

Eileen Collins is a living proof that determination, passion, and courage truly can change the world. We can’t wait to welcome her to Pyrkon!