Famous quotes by Astronauts

Astronauts

Quotes from astronauts capture the blend of science, courage, and curiosity that propels humans beyond Earth. Drawn from training grounds, launch pads, and the quiet of orbit, their reflections illuminate the risks of exploration, the power of teamwork, and the profound perspective of seeing our planet as a fragile, shared home. Whether describing technical problem-solving or moments of awe, their words invite readers of all ages to consider what it means to venture outward, learn from adversity, and return with renewed respect for life below.

"They say any landing you can walk away from is a good one"

Alan Shepard, Astronaut

"It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"There is still no cure for the common birthday"

John Glenn, Astronaut

Small: John Glenn

"Research is creating new knowledge"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"I believe that every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind - every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder"

John Glenn, Astronaut

Small: John Glenn

"I would have taken whatever hand I was dealt. Space was it"

Story Musgrave, Astronaut

"We're taking up some science experiments, some crystal growth things, we have a refrigerator that carries up some samples, new samples that go into the station, we bring the old ones home; we have a lot of clothing, we have a lot of food-U.S. and Russian food"

Linda M. Godwin, Astronaut

Small: Linda M. Godwin

"There's a lot of interest from the medical community on how things develop in microgravity, and the hope, later, that is expected to apply to what the changes are in humans as well"

Linda M. Godwin, Astronaut

Small: Linda M. Godwin

"I like adventure"

Marc Garneau, Astronaut

Small: Marc Garneau

"There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen"

James A. Lovell, Astronaut

"Even though NASA tries to simulate launch, and we practice in simulators, it's not the same - it's not even close to the same"

Sally Ride, Astronaut

"Problems look mighty small from 150 miles up"

Roger B. Chaffee, Astronaut

"We had hundreds of thousands of people all dedicated to doing the perfect job, and I think they did about as well as anyone could ever have expected"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the nature of his deep inner soul... we're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"Canada and space are a natural fit"

Marc Garneau, Astronaut

Small: Marc Garneau

"As a boy, because I was born and raised in Ohio, about 60 miles north of Dayton, the legends of the Wrights have been in my memories as long as I can remember"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"We still have a lot of international partner modules that need to get up there to make it truly the international structure that it will be, and that's highly important; we need to get to where the crew size is bigger"

Linda M. Godwin, Astronaut

Small: Linda M. Godwin

"The moon is essentially gray, no color. It looks like plaster of Paris, like dirty beach sand with lots of footprints in it"

James A. Lovell, Astronaut

"It's a great view from here. I'm having the time of my life"

Michael P. Anderson, Astronaut

Small: Michael P. Anderson

"As you look back at your life, there are just a million different things that have happened, just in the right way, to allow you to make your dreams come true. And you know, someone has all that under control"

Michael P. Anderson, Astronaut

Small: Michael P. Anderson

"You are an extremely valuable, worthwhile, significant person even though your present circumstances may have you feeling otherwise"

James Newman, Astronaut

"I've had a chance to fly a lot of different airplanes, but it was nothing like the shuttle ride"

Chris Hadfield, Astronaut

Small: Chris Hadfield

"As a physician, I understand how important it is to collect data on people so we can understand what's happening with them. I will be in the position to help enable that knowledge"

Laurel Clark, Astronaut

Small: Laurel Clark

"The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine"

James Irwin, Astronaut

"The Next Generation Space Telescope, which will be located much further away from the Earth than the Hubble Space Telescope presently is, will also explore the infrared part of the spectrum"

Claude Nicollier, Astronaut

"I touch the future. I teach"

Christa McAuliffe, Astronaut

"Well, I think we tried very hard not to be overconfident, because when you get overconfident, that's when something snaps up and bites you"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

"This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind"

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Small: Neil Armstrong

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