Saturday, July 01, 2006
Former Shuttle Commander-Now CNN Commentator More Nervous Watching a Launch
Former shuttle commander turned CNN space commentator Eileen Collins says she's more nervous watching a launch than actually being in the commander's seat. Below is an excerpt from an article from the Associated Press:
"Last year, Eileen Collins sat on more than a million pounds of explosive fuel, strapped into a space shuttle.
Saturday she sat in a director's chair waiting for a liftoff that didn't happen for seven of her former colleagues _ more anxious than she was as shuttle commander.
"I am much more nervous watching a launch," said Collins, 49, who retired from NASA two months ago and was working as a TV commentator this weekend. "When I'm in the orbiter, flying my own mission, I'm very calm."
In July a year ago, all space exploration attention was focused on Collins who was about to lead the first shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster in 2003.
This time around she's working for CNN, hanging out with reporters at the Kennedy Space Center media compound. The first female space commander shared anecdotes with television anchors about her time in space. And she kept in touch with NASA public affairs officers for updates on a thruster heater problem that threatened the launch before the weather finally forced the mission to be scrubbed. Another launch will be tried Sunday afternoon.
Collins left NASA in May to spend more time with her husband and two children. She hasn't decide what her next job will be but hopes it's in the space industry."
"Last year, Eileen Collins sat on more than a million pounds of explosive fuel, strapped into a space shuttle.
Saturday she sat in a director's chair waiting for a liftoff that didn't happen for seven of her former colleagues _ more anxious than she was as shuttle commander.
"I am much more nervous watching a launch," said Collins, 49, who retired from NASA two months ago and was working as a TV commentator this weekend. "When I'm in the orbiter, flying my own mission, I'm very calm."
In July a year ago, all space exploration attention was focused on Collins who was about to lead the first shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster in 2003.
This time around she's working for CNN, hanging out with reporters at the Kennedy Space Center media compound. The first female space commander shared anecdotes with television anchors about her time in space. And she kept in touch with NASA public affairs officers for updates on a thruster heater problem that threatened the launch before the weather finally forced the mission to be scrubbed. Another launch will be tried Sunday afternoon.
Collins left NASA in May to spend more time with her husband and two children. She hasn't decide what her next job will be but hopes it's in the space industry."
# posted by ATN @ 7:33 PM 
