"But I said I was going to be an astronaut 'pilot,' because I wanted to fly," recalled Collins.

In 1979 she was one of the first women to wear Air Force pilot wings. Twelve years later, Collins became an astronaut pilot, and was the first woman to pilot a shuttle mission aboard STS-63 in 1995. July 20, she will set yet another precedent, as the first woman to command a space shuttle mission.

Ironically, the launch will coincide with the 30-year anniversary of Apollo 11, the mission that let Neil Armstrong take "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Collins, who pinned on colonel in April, said allowing a woman to take the next leap for humankind -- commanding a shuttle mission -- is long overdue.

"Some very smart women never got an opportunity to do it because of various factors that have kept women out of the flying business over the years," she said.

Collins said it first required an evolution in American society. She cites the Women Air Force Service women of World War II who ferried planes to the front, or NASA's Mercury astronaut selection tests, which studied women's physiological response to the rigors of space, as the first stages of that evolution. As empirical data proved women are as capable as men, attitudes began changing, and in 1974, the Navy was the first service to put a woman in a cockpit.

Collins said getting enough women with technical backgrounds to fly for the military and then apply to NASA has been "an evolutionary process" that is only now bearing fruit.

"Since it has taken this long, and since I'm the one to go as the first shuttle commander, I can say that I'm honored to have this opportunity," she said.

When discussing the historical significance of their flight with a group of 7-year olds last year, Air Force Lt. Col. Catherine Coleman, mission specialist on the flight, said they "looked at me like, 'so?'" She said that is progress to her, but added, "it's important for a lot of very young girls to look on the TV set and see a lot of Eileen in the next few weeks. They're going to realize this is just normal."

Collins said she's been treated just normal while working for both the Air Force and NASA -- two historically male-dominated organizations -- beginning almost 20 years ago when she started pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. She said the leadership there kept the focus off her unique status, so she could keep her focus on learning to be a good pilot.

Aside from a few press conferences, Collins said the focus at NASA has also been on the mission, and not on the historical significance of it.

"People here at NASA don't treat you based on what you look like," she said. "What matters is, are you competent at your job, do you have a positive attitude, do you care about what you're doing, do you believe in the mission?" She said for her crew, the answer is yes.

The crew's primary mission is to place the Chandra X-ray Observatory into high-Earth orbit. The payload is the third of NASA's four "Great Observatories" in space, which together will measure the entire spectrum of light, including visible and ultraviolet light, gamma radiation, the infrared spectrum and X-ray radiation. It is also the heaviest and largest payload launched on a space shuttle.

Collins said she knows she's a role model, especially to young girls, for whom she has "a mouthful" of advice, starting with urging them to work hard for what they want.

"I find the harder you work, the luckier you get," she said. "The harder you work, the more opportunities come to you."

She said while hard work is tough, the 'magic formula' that has served her well focuses her on academics; activities, such as sports, community and church; and health. She also warns against alcohol and drugs, advising young people to "get more out of life from clean living."

The Air Force has also been part of Collins' formula, providing leadership experience, tremendous opportunities and incredible responsibilities.

"You say, 'my country is trusting me with this job I have, and people are depending on me,'" she said. "I think that's a good feeling. I think it's good to know, as a person, that you are valued."

While Collins has become the role model of the next generation, she said parents can be the best role models, because "they can inspire (their children) every day.

"My pitch to parents is to give them (children) the opportunity to achieve their dreams," she said. "My parents did that."

It can be especially difficult, however, for an astronaut to follow her own advice.

"The way I deal with that is, first of all, I love both my jobs," she said. "I love coming to work and training for my flight, and I love going home and being a mom."

Being a role model can have its downside too, she said, because of the attention on her and the mission. She said people wonder, "How's the woman going to do?" but said it doesn't bother her in her daily job.

"I want to fly this mission, I want my crew to be excellent, I want the mission to be excellent," she said.

After her crew is excellent, Collins said she will look forward to completion of the International Space Station and other projects, which she hopes includes manned stations on the moon and Mars.

"I'd like to see it happen in my lifetime," she said. "We're only taking very baby steps now, and this is only the beginning. There's so much to explore and so much to know."

When that future comes, Collins said she thinks the focus will have changed, and her legacy will be relatively unimportant.

"We're going to get out beyond that someday and think about what's really important," she said, "and that is the exploration and learning about the universe we live in."

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