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

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

It's good to have a fear of heights. I mean, it's kind of crazy not to because if you just lean out a little bit and there's a gust of wind or somebody bumps you or something and you fall, you're splat.

My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result of a lifetime spent visualizing defeat and figuring out how to prevent it. Like most astronauts, I'm pretty sure that I can deal with what life throws at me because I've thought about what to do if things go wrong, as well as right. That's the power of negative thinking.

Sweat the small stuff. Without letting anyone see you sweat.

The Moon has given us months, tides and a destination that ever-beckons. It's time we build a rocket and go to stay.

Anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them is actually the opposite of worrying: it's productive.