This claustrophobia was the only weakness I had. It's not my fault. It's just in my mind.

People are fascinated about the world above them because it seems so out-of-reach. My jump gave them an opportunity to come along for the ride. They could watch live on their screens how someone rises all the way up into the stratosphere.

If you want to do something extraordinary, there's always risk involved. I was always willing to take that risk.

I want to find a nice decent job as a helicopter pilot.

Well, I jumped for the first time when I was 16. I just loved it and immediately realized that it was what I wanted to do.

Aviation - and space travel, in particular - have always been especially captivating.

That spin became so violent, it was hard to know how to get out of it. I was able to get it under control and break the speed of sound...I could feel myself break the speed of sound. I could feel the air building up and then I hit it.