Robert Crippen

“When we came back, we were heroes. But the guys who were really the heroes were the ones on the ground who made it possible for us to go.”

“It was so much smoother than I ever expected. It was a very nice ride.”

“We were flying a winged vehicle. We had a lot more drag than the capsule boys did.”

“We were certainly concerned about the tiles. We had seen indications that we had lost some tiles on the way to orbit.”

“John and I were certainly aware that there was a good chance we were not going to come back. But we were willing to take that risk.”

“My career at NASA was a dream come true.”

“It was a ride of a lifetime.”

“It was the first time we had ever lit those solid rocket boosters. And boy, they sure lit.”

“The one thing I remember most was the view of the Earth. It's a spectacular sight.”

“The view is beyond the description of anyone. It's a shame that everyone can't see it.”