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

When you're getting ready to launch into space, you're sitting on a big explosion waiting to happen.

I haven't written my memoirs or let the television movie be made about my life.

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.

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 easy to sleep floating around - it's very comfortable. But you have to be careful that you don't float into somebody or something!

I didn't really decide that I wanted to be an astronaut for sure until the end of college.