When the space shuttle's engines cut off, and you're finally in space, in orbit, weightless... I remember unstrapping from my seat, floating over to the window, and that's when I got my first view of Earth. Just a spectacular view, and a chance to see our planet as a planet.

I've discovered that half the people would love to go into space and there's no need to explain it to them. The other half can't understand and I couldn't explain it to them. If someone doesn't know why, I can't explain it.

I have been a bit of a risk-taker all my life.

The space shuttle is a better and safer rocket than it was before the Challenger accident.

The view of Earth is spectacular.

For quite some time, women at NASA only had scientific backgrounds.

I did not come to NASA to make history.