By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The crew that was to head space on Wednesday's shuttle launch will be led by a graduate of Webster University.
Eileen Collins got a masters' in Space Systems Management from Webster's Colorado Springs campus in 1989.
She then became the first woman to command a shuttle mission six years ago.
That's when Collins showed off a little Webster pride, according to university President Richard Meyers.
"She was only allowed to take two items into space with her, and she chose the Webster flag as one of them. And so, she took a photograph in the capsule, which is in a display now on the campus," Meyers said.
Collins will again be commander tomorrow.
It's NASA's first shuttle launch since the Columbia explosion two years ago.
Webster students, staff and faculty will watch at a party on campus tomorrow afternoon.
To hear more about Collins, as reported on NPR's Morning Edition, click here.