The United States ended the space shuttle program in 2011, after the ISS was complete. We gave up a national treasure forever.

I remember looking at the moon as an 8-year-old and marveling that there were two astronauts in a lander on the surface, getting ready to go out and actually walk. That settled it for me: I knew I was going to at least try to become an astronaut. I wanted to be like those guys.

Growing up in the 1960s, I can't remember a time when I wasn't fascinated by airplanes and rockets.

Leroy Chiao Quotes