U.S. Vice President Al Gore congratulated Eileen Collins on her achievement as the first woman to command a U.S. space flight at a “welcome-home” ceremony yesterday.
Gore proclaimed that Collins “has not only equaled but surpassed Amelia Earhart in the history of flight.” Addressing Collins daughter, who sat in the audience, Gore said “Today, Bridget, your mommy stands here as a hero to all girls and boys, women and men, Americans and people all over the world.”
Collins spoke of the importance of nurturing people’s interest in space exploration and thanked her colleagues and ground support crews for their role in her success.
