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

My favourite city for nightlife is Toronto, as it has such a multicultural feel, with so many different restaurants and theatres.

From space, the Bahamas is the most beautiful place on Earth.

There's really just one thing I can control: my attitude during the journey, which is what keeps me feeling steady and stable, and what keeps me headed in the right direction. So I consciously monitor and correct, if necessary, because losing attitude would be far worse than not achieving my goal.

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.

I'm really looking forward to it, if you can imagine floating weightless, watching the world pour by through the big bay window of the space station playing a guitar; just a tremendous place to think about where we are in history.

I've had a chance to fly a lot of different airplanes, but it was nothing like the shuttle ride.