So everything turned out fine, and we were given the opportunity to go to Washington and be briefed on the project of man in space, and given the opportunity to choose whether we wanted to get involved or not.

There's no question that all the generations got excited about the first flights, with Kennedy's inspiration to go to the moon, leaving the planet for the first time, and fortunately coming back.

I know you're all saying I can go to the moon but I can't find Pasadena.

We need a continuing presence in space.

We're going to see passengers in space stations in 15 years, who will be able to buy a ticket and spend a weekend in space.

I didn't mind studying. Obviously math and the physical science subjects interested me more than some of the more artistic subjects, but I think I was a pretty good student.

I just wanted to be the first one to fly for America, not because I'd end up in the pages of history books.