Of course, in our grade school, in those days, there were no organized sports at all. We just went out and ran around the school yard for recess.

I'd like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me.

It's a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.

Whether you are an astronomer or a life scientist, geophysicist, or a pilot, you've got to be there because you believe you are good in your field, and you can contribute, not because you are going to get a lot of fame or whatever when you get back.

I think about the personal accomplishment, but there's more of a sense of the grand achievement by all the people who could put this man on the moon.

Obviously I was challenged by becoming a Naval aviator, by landing aboard aircraft carriers and so on.

You may not have any extra talent, but maybe you are just paying more attention to what you are doing.