All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.

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

Once you are assigned to a flight, the whole crew is assigned at the same time, and then that crew trains together for a whole year to prepare for that flight.

The view of Earth is spectacular.

But even in elementary school and junior high, I was very interested in space and in the space program.

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.

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