“I wanted to apply to the astronaut program after the Challenger accident” WantedProgramAccidentsAstronaut Author:Eileen Collins
“As a youngster, I read of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. As a student, I wrote English reports on science fiction. And as a fighter pilot, I observed the selection of the Mercury astronauts. All this was fascinating, but I really didn't think I would ever be a part of it. It was only when my good friend Ed White was selected as a Gemini astronaut that I decided to join NASA as part of the Apollo program.” ThinkingWhiteFictionStudentsProgramDecidedScience FictionFighterReportsFascinatingPilotsFlashGood FriendSelectionApolloAstronautBucksRogerSelectedNasaYoungstersMercuryFighter PilotBuck RogersFlash Gordon Author:Buzz Aldrin
“We needed a "psychenaut" program to be the opposite of the astronaut program in order to explore the enormous domains and dimensions of inner space. We need inner space exploration. We need to have access to more capacities in order to be adequate stewards of this most incredible process of transformation in human history.” NeedsHumansOrderProcessSpaceNeededCapacityProgramOppositesTransformationIncrediblesAccessEnormousDimensionsExplorationAdequateDomainHuman HistoryAstronautSpace ExplorationStewards Author:Jean Houston
“At every step of the way, when I had trouble, there were people that came in, in my life that helped me. It's important to go seek help when you need it, and to give help when other people need it. And that is really more important than coming in with a gigantic brain into the astronaut program.” PeopleGivingImportantHelpingBrainTroubleProgramAstronaut Author:Michael J. Massimino
“In a big picture sense, it's more national prestige that we're risking. You know, we are proud of our space program, but as we were talking earlier, the average American doesn't think that much about it right now. So, it may seem like something we could just give up and not really worry about it, but I think it starts creeping into the national psyche. If American astronauts have to hitch rides with the Russians or other nations in the future.” ThinkingGivingWorryProudGiving UpProgramAstronautPrestigeBig PictureJust Give Up Author:Leroy Chiao
“For me, the passion of being an astronaut was ignited at an early age. I have this recollection of looking at a picture of the Apollo program - Neil Armstrong standing on the Moon - then looking at the night sky and realizing that, right where I was looking, people stood and looked back at the Earth. Even as a fairly young child, that was not lost on me, and it inspired me to pursue my dream. I didn't know if I would ever become an astronaut, of course, and the odds are not in your favour, but I just kept it in the back of my mind and tried to keep those options open.” PeopleMindChildrenDreamAgeEarthNightPassionRealizingMoonProgramInspiredAstronautNight Sky Author:Jeremy Hansen
“I cannot join the space program and restart my life as an astronaut, but this opportunity to connect my abilities as an educator with my interests in history and space is a unique opportunity to fulfill my early fantasies.” OpportunityInterestAbilitySpaceFantasyUniqueProgramAstronautEducatorNasaSpace TravelSpace ProgramUnique Opportunities Author:Christa McAuliffe
“No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.” ThinkingSpaceRiskProgramPreparedAccidentsAstronautSpace ShuttleHigh RiskShuttle Program Author:Sally Ride
“The powered flight took a total of about eight and a half minutes. It seemed to me it had gone by in a lash. We had gone from sitting still on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center to traveling at 17,500 miles an hour in that eight and a half minutes. It is still mind-boggling to me. I recall making some statement on the air-to-ground radio for the benefit of my fellow astronauts, who had also been in the program a long time, that it was well worth the wait.” MindWellsLongStillsWaitingHoursSpaceHalfGoneAirMinutesBenefitsLong TimeSittingProgramFellowsRadioEightMilesStatementsFlightAviationAirplaneRecallsAstronautStar GazingLashesPadsSitting StillMind BogglingWorth The Wait Author:Robert Crippen
“If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.” PeopleIfsWantLifeInspirationalHappensDeathDiesHopeSpaceAcceptingRiskDiscoveryProgramAcceptedThings HappenMeaning Of LifeLife And DeathExplorationExploringDelayConquestAstronautRisky Business Author:Gus Grissom
“Although as a boy I had dreamed about going into space, I had completely forgotten about that until one day I received a call from an astronaut, who suggested that I should join the program.” ShouldSpaceBoysOne DayProgramForgottenAstronautSpace Exploration Author:David M. Brown