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Eileen Collins was the first woman to command a space shuttle. A new documentary shows how she got there

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Why This Matters

This documentary highlights Eileen Collins's inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the first woman to command a space shuttle, showcasing resilience and determination. Her story underscores the importance of perseverance and breaking gender barriers in the tech and aerospace industries. It serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for overcoming adversity to achieve groundbreaking milestones.

Key Takeaways

‘Spacewoman’ chronicles how Collins persevered against odds to become the first female space shuttle pilot and commander. The first time a 17-year-old Eileen Collins drove solo after getting her driver’s license was to follow the ambulance carrying her mother after a suicide attempt. After two decades raising four children on welfare and fending off an abusive, alcoholic husband, her mother was done. It was Collins who found her in time and called the police. After such a traumatizing childhood, had Collins simply gone on to make a stable life, she would have beaten the odds.