Leroy Chiao

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

I hope that China will continue with space exploration. It would be logical to have international co-operation. I hope that it will come about and that I can be involved in it.

There is no one area of chemical engineering that specifically helped me in my career as an astronaut, it was more the general education in engineering. Also, it was a very difficult and rigorous course. So, it made me strong and resourceful.

Studying engineering was natural for me; I was always interested in technology and building things.

I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us. It makes us a little bit more competitive and wanting to be the leader.

You might have heard about a transformation that can occur when someone first sees Earth from space - how it becomes harder to think about 'my country' or 'my people' and harder not to think about 'our planet.' I can tell you, that transformation is real.

Science does not just drive space travel - space travel also drives science.

I remember taking a space walk on the ISS. There I was, wrench in hand, tightening bolts on a new module. It was such a mundane task. But when I looked in one direction, there was Earth floating in vivid blues and greens. In the other direction, I could see the blackest black conceivable, punctured by unwavering pinpoints of starshine.

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

One day, people will be able to buy tickets to visit space.

Of course, you'll have to meet the physical and psychological demands. A space walk takes a lot of energy.

An eclipse is one phenomenon that is actually more impressive from the ground.