But when I wasn't working, I was usually at a window looking down at Earth.

The pressure suit helps if something goes wrong during launch or re-entry - astronauts have a way to parachute off the shuttle. The suits protect you from loss of pressure in case of emergency.

My parents must have done a great job. Anytime I wanted to pursue something that they weren't familiar with, that was not part of their lifestyle, they let me go ahead and do it.

It takes a couple of years just to get the background and knowledge that you need before you can go into detailed training for your mission.

Well, we spend an awful lot of our time working and doing experiments. It's very busy up on the shuttle.

On a standard space shuttle crew, two of the astronauts have a test pilot background - the commander and the pilot.

If they asked me if I wanted to go into space tomorrow, I'd do it in a heartbeat. On the other hand, if they asked me if I wanted to go into training for three years and then go into space again, I'd probably say no.