Almost everything I do when I approach an operational problem comes from the time I've been in space. It's a way of organizing your thoughts. We use problem-solving; what we call "what-if-ing." What if this happened? What would we do? We go over plan B, C, D, E, F, and whatever else, depending on the criticality of what we're doing. This kind of thing can be applied almost everywhere, even at home.

I am definitely a little more nervous for my colleagues when I'm working at mission control than I am myself, on the shuttle.

On the day a country decides not to invest a cent in innovation, discovery or exploration, that country decides to be a tributary to others.

I really believe that, in 500 years, we will still remember the International Space Station, because it will have been the first time, really and truly, that nations put a lot of money, brains, resources, and effort together to build something peacefully, and to work together for the sole and unique purpose of furthering our knowledge and bringing it back to Earth for our mutual good.

Most people here don't have a wide emotional range. It's just the type of people astronauts are, they're required to be level.

Nobody is going anywhere in 10 years.

When you're a little different than others, it takes a little more time to fit in. If you really want to be there, there are no ingredients you need other than effort, perseverance and teamwork.