Science is fun. Science is curiosity. We all have natural curiosity. Science is a process of investigating. It's posing questions and coming up with a method. It's delving in.

No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.

I have a lot of common sense. I know what needs to be done and how to approach it. I have an ability to work with people on large enterprises.

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.

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.

It's too bad our society isn't further along.

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