I realized up there that our planet is not infinite. It's fragile. That may not be obvious to a lot of folks, and it's tough that people are fighting each other here on Earth instead of trying to get together and live on this planet. We look pretty vulnerable in the darkness of space.

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

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.

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

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.

I think the sense of family and family achievement, plus the discipline which I received there from that one-room school were really very helpful in what I did later on.

We need a continuing presence in space.