It’s not enough to shelve your own competitive streak. You have to try, consciously, to help others succeed.

You can't just ignore spacewalking suit; it partially defines the experience. So maybe the most difficult thing is becoming completely attuned to efficiently wearing a garment that is so inhibiting to motion, and making it look effortless, as if it's the most natural thing to be out there on a spacewalk.

Imbibe three or four times as much water as you think you need and skip at least one, if not two meals, when you are travelling. You should arrive at your destination feeling slightly hungry and your digestive system reset.

There is no problem so bad that you cannot make it worse

Spaceflight isn't just about doing experiments, it's about an extension of human culture.

Competence means keeping your head in a crisis, sticking with a task even when it seems hopeless, and improvising good solutions to tough problems when every second counts. It encompasses ingenuity, determination and being prepared for anything.

The danger is different from the fear. ... [practice] what to do if things go wrong, as well as right.