And then, when I thought about joining the Air Force, flying seemed like a natural extension of the motorcycling experience. You're going faster, higher. You're operating a machine that's a lot more powerful than you are.
Duane G. Carey

And, actually it was interesting because I had done a lot of traveling in the United States and Canada and Mexico on my motorcycle; and I was really, it was the first time I had really gotten out of the Minnesota area to speak of.
Duane G. Carey

And, all these things need to be coordinated; so we all need to work together, have timers going and everything so we're all coordinated and get this piece of orchestration done.
Duane G. Carey

And, I was really impressed with how beautiful our country was and how friendly the people were.
Duane G. Carey

And, I wouldn't consider myself to be a natural pilot; I've had to work at it.
Duane G. Carey

And, obviously as a, as one who likes to travel around myself a lot, I think the Earth is a beautiful place. And, I'm looking forward to some new perspectives.
Duane G. Carey

And, one thing I definitely enjoyed personally, from a selfish point of view, was exploration and going to places that I had never been to before and learning, you know, meeting the people and getting to know, new sights and sounds, etc.
Duane G. Carey

And, so I set my goals on astronaut because, as a military aviator, it was, I considered that to be about the peak of a flying career.
Duane G. Carey

And, that's what I truly believe that we're doing when we're advancing scientific knowledge is we're someday making the world better. Not only for our children, but for all people after that.
Duane G. Carey

Because when we're in space, my job is primarily getting us there and getting us back.
Duane G. Carey


Being in space, I'm really looking forward to working with this team of folks that I'm with.
Duane G. Carey

I consider myself to be very fortunate in my career, my timing has worked out.
Duane G. Carey

I could do exploration in this particular career field, and it was a goal that, even if I didn't reach it, it was so high it seemed almost impossible, but even if I didn't reach it, I would still have a good time and a very satisfying career.
Duane G. Carey

I had, before I went to college, I had taken a few years off after high school and really had, I guess in those days, I had no intentions of going to college.
Duane G. Carey

I see it as one of my jobs to make sure that, it sounds ridiculous, but to make sure the folks are eating, make sure folks are getting enough fluids, make sure folks are, you know, comfortable in the orbiter.
Duane G. Carey

I worked for some very good people who have helped me along the way and actually enabled me to have the opportunity to be selected to join the Astronaut Corps.
Duane G. Carey

I'm looking forward to coming back, back to Earth, the landing, the views.
Duane G. Carey

Now you're coming back to Earth, and things are getting more and more dynamic.
Duane G. Carey

Now, I've never flown in space; but the folks who have say that on landing day, you know, you've just spent maybe a week and a half, sometimes two weeks in orbit and you're used to the things happening slowly in space.
Duane G. Carey

One of the jokes on our flight is that, if we have a normal entry day going, the plan is for me... to actually take the orbiter first and fly it for maybe 10 or 15 seconds and then hand it on over to Scooter.
Duane G. Carey