Some of the most fun people I know are scientists.

When I'm asked about the relevance to Black people of what I do, I take that as an affront. It presupposes that Black people have never been involved in exploring the heavens, but this is not so. Ancient African empires - Mali, Songhai, Egypt - had scientists, astronomers. The fact is that space and its resources belong to all of us, not to any one group.

As an astronaut, you have a very defined set of tasks to do. Those tasks may require you to work 60, 70 or 80 hours a week.

Sciences provide an understanding of a universal experience, Arts are a universal understanding of a personal experience... they are both a part of us and a manifestation of the same thing... the arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity

The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me.

You have the right to be involved. You have something important to contribute, and you have to take the risk to contribute it.

My parents were comfortable with me exploring areas that they were not proficient in. Some parents just aren't comfortable with that.