Eileen M. Collins, USAF (Retired), retired from the Air
Force in 2005 and from NASA in 2006, having logged more than 6,751
hours in thirty different types of aircraft and spent 872 hours in
space. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and was inducted into the
Astronaut Hall of Fame, among many other honors. Since retiring,
she has traveled the world as a motivational speaker. Col. Collins
has served as an advisor to the National Space Council and a board
member of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. She is married, with
two children, and lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Jonathan H. Ward works to bring the thrill of the space
program to life for the general public as a Solar System Ambassador
for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and as a cruise ship resident
astronomer and enrichment lecturer. A fellow of the Royal
Astronomical Society, he is the coauthor with Michael D. Leinbach
of Bringing Columbia Home and author of two previous books on space
exploration. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"One of the essential astronaut autobiographies."—National Space
Society
"Well worth waiting for . . . She became famous for breaking
the glass ceilings of the book’s title by being the first woman to
be a shuttle pilot and a commander, but her accounts of the
missions themselves are fascinating as well."—Space Review
“Given the chance, I would long ponder trading places with Eileen
Collins. Her book with Jonathan Ward is a grand collection of
simple, yet sensational moments she experienced—in Outer Space!—and
in much that led to her getting there. What a read!"—Tom
Hanks
“I wrote the song ‘Beyond the Sky’ and sang it at Cape
Canaveral for Eileen Collins’s maiden command voyage: ‘Once there
was a girl with a dream in her heart, wild as the wind was her
hope.’ This woman with the dream has turned into a serious
heroine of the centuries who has taken her place among other
men and women in the startling adventure of circling the Earth and
leaving it behind. You will love her book: it is exciting,
personal, detailed, a good thriller, suspenseful as a Stephen
King mystery, and full of hope—that rare quality we all search
for. Yeehaw, Commander Collins! What a life you have led and what a
tale you have told! Brava!”—Judy Collins, singer, songwriter,
author
"Eileen Collins is a living legend and an inspiration to young
people all over the world. We both began our journeys in Elmira,
NY, with dreams of doing something extraordinary. Nurturing a dream
is rarely ever easy, and Eileen certainly didn’t have a clear path
to pursuing hers. Despite being met with challenges at every step,
she was tenacious in chasing her ambition of becoming an
astronaut—one who would go on to make history as the first female
pilot and commander of an American space shuttle. When you come
across a story of such determination, it is a reminder that once
you set your mind to something, even the sky is not the
limit.”—Tommy Hilfiger
“I hope that a young explorer who reads Eileen’s book will be
inspired to become the first human on Mars. Eileen proves that
there is no limit to what we can do if we stay true to our goals
and keep moving forward.”—Buzz Aldrin
“Eileen is living proof to youngsters and young ladies that you can
do anything you want to do with your life.”—Wally Funk, Mercury 13
pilot
“Eileen Collins and I trained for the shuttle together, flew jets
together, and waited together for that first chance to
rocket into space. In Through the Glass Ceiling, Eileen tells the
inspiring story of how she rose through hard work and determination
to become a rare exemplar of the ‘right stuff,’ leading her crews
to success in orbit and commanding the first shuttle launch
after the Columbia disaster. Read, be amazed, then get
this book into the hands of young explorers.”—Thomas D. Jones,
astronaut and author of Skywalking
“Reading Eileen’s story will not only help you get to know this
extraordinary woman (mother, wife, survivor, USAF colonel,
mathematician, professor, astronaut), but I bet it will help you
think about facing life’s challenges with a greater sense of
strength and determination. She is an inspiration.”—Gwynne
Shotwell, president and COO, SpaceX
“This book is endlessly inspiring!Eileen Collins is a trailblazer
not only of space but of life. Her story of overcoming adversity to
achieve her dream of flying in space will make your spirit
soar.”—Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of
the Apollo Astronauts
“In the dark days in the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy, we
looked no further than Eileen Collins to lead us down the long road
with the Return to Flight crew to help NASA and the nation believe
in ourselves again and resume the human quest to explore. This new
book, with the help of master storyteller Jonathan Ward, captures
Eileen’s thoughtful reflections and compelling story, which serves
to inspire us all to reach our greatest potential.” —Sean O’Keefe,
NASA Administrator, 2001–2005
“As the commander of first space shuttle flight after the loss of
Columbia, Eileen Collins lived, worked, and led her crew through a
critical phase of history. How she got there is a story as
interesting as the events themselves, one that is as inspirational
as any in the pantheon of American aerospace heroes. This book
takes you inside the life and times of one of
NASA’s—America’s—best.”—Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator,
2005–2009
“Exciting, motivating, and inspirational are only a few words to
describe this story of Eileen Collins and her incredible journey to
space. Her tenacity, resilience and persistence come through with
each chapter.”—Charlie Bolden, Major General, USMC, Retired, former
astronaut, former NASA Administrator, 2009–2017
“Eileen Collins has finally written the book people have been
asking for. Growing up on welfare in a fractured family, Eileen's
chance to live her own life took form in her long-held love of
airplanes; her deep love of flying comes across on every page.
Despite numerous obstacles in her path, she turned setbacks into
advantages. We're with her in the pilot’s seat from page one.
This inspiring book takes you into the challenges, the risks, the
rewards—the heart of what it took to be first.”—Francis French,
space historian; former Director of Events, Sally Ride Science
"Eileen Collins is an unsung American hero. Her memoir should be
‘must reading’ for all young girls and boys in school, and indeed
for every aspiring student at all levels. She has been a
pioneer in everything she tried. The fact that NASA
named Eileen as pilot on her first space shuttle flight tells you
everything about the trust and confidence she inspires. I
have had the honor of working with Eileen in her
post-astronaut activities on several boards as well as the White
House’s National Space Council. That same trust
and confidence, combined with just being a natural leader who
cares for people, are evident everywhere.”—General Lester L.
Lyles, United States Air Force, retired, former Air Force Vice
Chief of Staff, and Chairman NASA Advisory Council
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