We are involved in technology development for, you know, missions that we hope to plan that would take us to an asteroid and eventually to Mars.

I'll tell you, being involved in human space flight, it is an emotional endeavor. I think it brings in the highest highs and the lowest lows.

What everyone in the astronaut corps shares in common is not gender or ethnic background, but motivation, perseverance, and desire - the desire to participate in a voyage of discovery.

I don't recall any interest in science in particular. It came later in college.

I was always drawn to teachers who made class interesting. In high school, I enjoyed my American and English literature classes because my teachers, Jeanne Dorsey and Dani Barton, created an environment where interaction was important.

It's fun to work the robotic arm in part because it's really a team effort.

Education is what allows you to stand out