So most astronauts getting ready to lift off are excited and very anxious and worried about that explosion - because if something goes wrong in the first seconds of launch, there's not very much you can do.

Quote by Sally Ride

Topics: Sally Ride Quotes

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

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

The astronauts who came in with me in my astronaut class - my class had...

The astronauts who came in with me in my astronaut class - my class had...

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...

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 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...

So most astronauts are astronauts for a couple of years before they are assigned to...

So most astronauts are astronauts for a couple of years before they are assigned to...

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...

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

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

It's easy to sleep floating around - it's very comfortable. But you have to be...

It's easy to sleep floating around - it's very comfortable. But you have to be...

On a standard space shuttle crew, two of the astronauts have a test pilot background...

On a standard space shuttle crew, two of the astronauts have a test pilot background...

On both of my flights, everything went very well.

On both of my flights, everything went very well.

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.

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...

All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.

All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.

NASA has to approve whatever we wear, so there are clothes to choose from, like...

NASA has to approve whatever we wear, so there are clothes to choose from, like...

Because I was a tennis player, Billie Jean King was a hero of mine.

Because I was a tennis player, Billie Jean King was a hero of mine.

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...

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...

My background is in physics, so I was the mission specialist, who is sort of...

My background is in physics, so I was the mission specialist, who is sort of...

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...