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

Quote by Sally Ride

Topics: Sally Ride Quotes

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

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

I had both male and female heroes.

I had both male and female heroes.

Well, we spend an awful lot of our time working and doing experiments. It's very...

Well, we spend an awful lot of our time working and doing experiments. It's very...

So I decided on science when I was in college.

So I decided on science when I was in college.

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

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

The food isn't too bad. It's very different from the food that the astronauts ate...

The food isn't too bad. It's very different from the food that the astronauts ate...

Then during the mission itself, I used the space shuttle's robot arm to release a...

Then during the mission itself, I used the space shuttle's robot arm to release a...

The stars don't look bigger, but they do look brighter.

The stars don't look bigger, but they do look brighter.

I slept just floating in the middle of the flight deck, the upper deck of...

I slept just floating in the middle of the flight deck, the upper deck of...

So I saw many planets, and they looked just a little bit brighter than they...

So I saw many planets, and they looked just a little bit brighter than they...

Even though NASA tries to simulate launch, and we practice in simulators, it's not the...

Even though NASA tries to simulate launch, and we practice in simulators, it's not the...

The space shuttle is a better and safer rocket than it was before the Challenger...

The space shuttle is a better and safer rocket than it was before the Challenger...

The most anxious time was during launch, just because that is so dramatic.

The most anxious time was during launch, just because that is so dramatic.

I liked math - that was my favorite subject - and I was very interested...

I liked math - that was my favorite subject - and I was very interested...

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

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

Different astronauts sleep in different ways.

Different astronauts sleep in different ways.

Once you are assigned to a flight, the whole crew is assigned at the same...

Once you are assigned to a flight, the whole crew is assigned at the same...

It takes a couple of years just to get the background and knowledge that you...

It takes a couple of years just to get the background and knowledge that you...

Some astronauts sleep in sort of beds - compartments that you can open up and...

Some astronauts sleep in sort of beds - compartments that you can open up and...

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

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