I was sold on flying as soon as I had a taste for it.

There are times when you devote yourself to a higher cause than personal safety.

I don't know what you could say about a day in which you have seen four beautiful sunsets.

This is a day we have managed to avoid for a quarter of a century. We've talked about it before and speculated about it, and it finally has occurred. We hoped we could push this day back forever.

I suppose the one quality in an astronaut more powerful than any other is curiosity. They have to get some place nobody's ever been.

The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.

We had a lot of confidence that there was going to be a successful mission. We weren't off on some suicide effort, certainly [with Friendship 7].