Weightless is a great equalizer.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.