And, one thing I definitely enjoyed personally, from a selfish point of view, was exploration and going to places that I had never been to before and learning, you know, meeting the people and getting to know, new sights and sounds, etc.

I worked for some very good people who have helped me along the way and actually enabled me to have the opportunity to be selected to join the Astronaut Corps.

Because when we're in space, my job is primarily getting us there and getting us back.

I see it as one of my jobs to make sure that, it sounds ridiculous, but to make sure the folks are eating, make sure folks are getting enough fluids, make sure folks are, you know, comfortable in the orbiter.

And, I wouldn't consider myself to be a natural pilot; I've had to work at it.

I consider myself to be very fortunate in my career, my timing has worked out.

And, so I set my goals on astronaut because, as a military aviator, it was, I considered that to be about the peak of a flying career.