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.

I suggest taking the high road and have a little sence of humour and let things roll off your back. I think that's very important.

So most astronauts getting ready to lift off are excited and very anxious and worried about that explosion - because if something goes wrong in the first seconds of launch, there's not very much you can do.

So I decided on science when I was in college.

I do a lot of running and hiking, and I also collect stamps - space stamps and Olympics stamps.

We need to make science cool again.

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.