MOVIE OF THE WEEK March 13, 2026: SPACEWOMAN

Looking at Eileen Collins — and hearing her talk in such an unassuming, approachable way, with a cadence that really sounds more Midwestern than southern New York, where she grew up — you’d be forgiven for not immediately recognizing her as the barrier-busting astronaut who, in 1999, became the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission for NASA. But Hannah Berryman’s compelling documentary Spacewoman aims to make sure everyone knows exactly who Collins is.

The film, which is based on Collins’ memoir Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission, which she co-wrote with Jonathan H. Ward, tells Collins’ story from her early days in Elmira, NY, as the daughter of an alcoholic father and (likely) severely depressed mother to her dogged pursuit of her dreams of flight to becoming a mother herself — and how that ultimately impacted her choices as an astronaut. Mixing interviews with Collins, her husband, Pat Youngs, and their daughter, Bridget Youngs, along with reflections by other space program veterans and footage from and about Collins’ missions, Berryman makes it clear just how significant Collins’ contribution to NASA was — and how the example she set continues to influence and inspire other would-be female astronauts.

Woven in with Collins’ history is that of NASA’s Space Shuttle program itself, especially the challenges it faced in the wake of the tragedies of the Challenger and Columbia missions. Interviewees make it clear just how easy it is for the tiniest of complications to scrub a launch — or doom a crew of highly trained pilots and scientists. That risk never stopped Collins from wanting to reach for the stars, though the situation became more complex once Bridget and her younger brother, Luke, came along in the 1990s. Bridget, who appears in the film extensively, is particularly honest about how hard it was to have her mother do dangerous work that took her away from the family for long periods — but she doesn’t voice blame or accusations against Eileen.

It’s impossible not to wonder, had this film been about a male astronaut, whether there would have been quite so much time devoted to his children’s reflection about the stress that his job put on them, with the underlying implication being that his choice to continue to fiercely pursue success in his profession was surprising (or even required explanation) once he became a parent. But once you watch Spacewoman, it’s also impossible not to wonder where the space program might be today had more women like Collins been in the mix from Day One. — Betsy Bozdech

Team #MOTW’s comments:

Loren King Fans of The Right Stuff, Apollo 13 and documentaries about the moon landing Apollo 11 and For All Mankind should welcome and delight in the revelatory Spacewoman, about astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. Director Hannah Berryman’s taut and emotionally satisfying film traces Collins’ humble origins in Elmira, New York; the hard work and resiliency that launched her impressive career in the US Air Force and at NASA; and how she faced and triumphed over sexism in the 1990s to command increasingly dangerous space shuttle missions that proved her skill and nerves of steel. The engrossing story also details the impact of Collins’ missions as a pilot on her family. Spacewoman deftly manages to be about both dizzying achievements in the dangerous realm of outer space and the other kind of courage and integrity it takes to be grounded back on earth.

Nell Minow: The traditional structure of this documentary fits the subject, a straightforward, respectful story of a woman of remarkable intelligence, dedication, and courage. Archival footage and interviews form the basis for a review of the career of pioneering pilot and astronaut Eileen Collins. Her reflections on her choices are candid and insightful. And any parent will recognize the wrenching choices that come with balancing a career and a family.

Leslie Combemale What always elevates documentaries about space travel for me is specific stories of problem solving of near calamities, and the show of grace under pressure. Spacewoman has that and more. What makes Eileen Collins’ stories particularly affecting is how she comes at them from the perspective of being a female trailblazer, and dealing with the added pressure that meant for herself and her family. Director Hannah Berryman and her subjects don’t shy away from personal struggle or trauma, either, offering an emotional depth to the film that will pull viewers in and make it both entertaining and enlightening.