The first plane ride was in a homemade glider my buddy and I built. Unfortunately we didn't get more than four feet off the ground, because it crashed.

I think all of us certainly believed the statistics which said that probably 88% chance of mission success and maybe 96% chance of survival. And we were willing to take those odds.

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.

I think first of all you have to be there for the right reason.

We also knew it would be difficult, because of the financial condition of the family, for me to go to college.

Roger, liftoff, and the clock is started.