Rocket science is tough, and rockets have a way of failing.

The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me.

Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God's gift to you, style is what you make of it.

Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.

For a long time, society put obstacles in the way of women who wanted to enter the sciences.

I don't have any nicknames.

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

On both of my flights, everything went very well.

It's too bad our society isn't further along.

If it wasn't for the women's movement, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The rockets light! The shuttle leaps off the launch pad in a cloud of steam and a trail of fire.

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

Weightless is a great equalizer.

I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do.

I have been a bit of a risk-taker all my life.

I find myself looking around for other new, interesting opportunities to dive into.

I did not come to NASA to make history.

I've spent my whole life not talking to people, and I don't see why I should start now.

We need to make science cool again.