There are aspects of being the first woman in space that I'm not going to enjoy.

If we want scientists and engineers in the future, we should be cultivating the girls as much as the boys.

Three Secrets to Success: Be willing to learn new things. Be able to assimilate new information quickly. Be able to get along with and work with other people.

All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.

It takes a couple of years just to get the background and knowledge that you need before you can go into detailed training for your mission.

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

There are lots of opportunities out there for women to work in these fields, ... Girls just need support, encouragement and mentoring to follow through with the sciences.

Our future lies with today's kids and tomorrow's space exploration.

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

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

We need to make science cool again.

A minister's (cabinet member's) function was not to DO the work but to see that it got done.

The beauty of the present and the future can only be seen by those who are willing to let go of the past.

If life takes you long way, take a shortcut!

There's no doubt that motherhood is the best thing in my life. It's all that really matters.

I think I've had the fantasy of a ray-gun that could erase the world from the time I was a very little kid.

A story must simmer in its own juice for months or even years before it's ready to serve.

I don't want to die. Damn death. Long live life.

You have to have other things in your life apart from swimming to focus on. It's not going to be just swimming in my life.

I'm a strong person, but I'd never resort to violence.

I've never seen impeccable logic be sufficient to win both the heart and the mind.