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.

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...

It takes a few years to prepare for a space mission.

It takes a few years to prepare for a space mission.

After the Challenger accident, NASA put in a lot of time to improve the safety...

After the Challenger accident, NASA put in a lot of time to improve the safety...

I had both male and female heroes.

I had both male and female heroes.

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.

But when I wasn't working, I was usually at a window looking down at Earth.

But when I wasn't working, I was usually at a window looking down at Earth.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

Yes, I did feel a special responsibility to be the first American woman in space.

Yes, I did feel a special responsibility to be the first American woman in space.

So I decided on science when I was in college.

So I decided on science when I was in college.