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

NASA has to approve whatever we wear, so there are clothes to choose from, like space shorts - we wear those a lot - and NASA T-shirts.

Even though NASA tries to simulate launch, and we practice in simulators, it's not the same - it's not even close to the same.

The view of earth is absolutely spectacular, and the feeling of looking back and seeing your planet as a planet is just an amazing feeling. It's a totally different perspective, and it makes you appreciate, actually, how fragile our existence is.

Some astronauts sleep in sort of beds - compartments that you can open up and crawl into and then close up, almost like a little bedroom.

Our future lies with today's kids and tomorrow's space exploration.

Because I was a tennis player, Billie Jean King was a hero of mine.