The most important steps that I followed were studying math and science in school. I was always interested in physics and astronomy and chemistry and I continued to study those subjects through high school and college on into graduate school. That's what prepared me for being an astronaut; it actually gave me the qualifications to be selected to be an astronaut.

We need to make science cool again.

If we want scientists and engineers in the future, we should be cultivating the girls as much as the boys.

Three Secrets to Success: Be willing to learn new things. Be able to assimilate new information quickly. Be able to get along with and work with other people.

My background is in physics, so I was the mission specialist, who is sort of like the flight engineer on an airplane.

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

You know, I go around the country a lot.