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The fascination to go into space has existed for hundreds of years. But as we do things and they're successful, people get bored.

I believe in the importance of flying in space and the research that we do.

I'll tell you, being involved in human space flight, it is an emotional endeavor. I think it brings in the highest highs and the lowest lows.

Basically, most good science in space flight has to do with the behavior of the human body in space. That is where we are lacking info, and where info can only be obtained by flying in space.

Sending people into space is very important culturally. That's really the justification. You cannot rationally justify it on the basis of the science and technology we get out of it.

The government will see that human spaceflight is useful - for science and the economy - and inspirational.

But investment in space stimulates society, it stimulates it economically, it stimulates it intellectually, and it gives us all passion.

The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the kinds of things we're learning from the science. Fuel transfer technologies and all the things we can learn about the space environment are all valuable to us for pressing on out.

When we meet people who are astronauts or deal in astronomy, it's always really fascinating.

Space offers extraordinary potential for commerce and adventure, for new innovations and new tests of will. As Americans, we can't help but reach for the stars. It's our nature. It's our destiny.