One thing I probably share with everyone else in the astronaut office is composure. Sally Ride More Quotes by Sally Ride More Quotes From Sally Ride No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents. Sally Ride risk space thinking I love the John Glenn model... I may call NASA in 25 years or so, and see if they'd like to send me to Mars. Sally Ride bad-ass may years I slept just floating in the middle of the flight deck, the upper deck of the space shuttle. Sally Ride flight floating space Rocket science is tough, and rockets have a way of failing. Sally Ride rockets tough way Suppose you came across a woman lying on the street with an elephant sitting on her chest. You notice she is short of breath. Shortness of breath can be a symptom of heart problems. In her case, the much more likely cause is the elephant on her chest. For a long time, society put obstacles in the way of women who wanted to enter the sciences. That is the elephant. Until the playing field has veen leveled and lingering stereotypes are gone, you can't even ask the question. Sally Ride bad-ass heart lying 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. Sally Ride worried excited firsts That's something that is almost part of being human and I'm certain that will continue. Sally Ride being-human certain humans 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. Sally Ride cutting space views We can see cities during the day and at night, and we can watch rivers dump sediment into the ocean, and see hurricanes form. Sally Ride ocean cities night I don't have any nicknames. Sally Ride nicknames I have a lot of common sense. I know what needs to be done and how to approach it. I have an ability to work with people on large enterprises. Sally Ride common-sense people needs So I decided on science when I was in college. Sally Ride decided college It's no secret that I've been reluctant to use my name for things. Sally Ride use secret names So most astronauts are astronauts for a couple of years before they are assigned to a flight. Sally Ride flight couple years The experience of being in space didn't change my perspective of myself or of the planet or of life. I had no spiritual experience. Sally Ride perspective space spiritual Ever been to Disneyland? That was definitely an E ticket! Sally Ride disneyland tickets For quite some time, women at NASA only had scientific backgrounds. Sally Ride nasa backgrounds The fact that I was going to be the first American woman to go into space carried huge expectations along with it. Sally Ride bad-ass space expectations Some astronauts sleep in sort of beds - compartments that you can open up and crawl into and then close up, almost like a little bedroom. Sally Ride bed sleep littles On both of my flights, everything went very well. Sally Ride flight wells
