I've Had A Chance To Fly A

As I Have Discovered Again And Again, Things Are Never As Bad (or As Good) As They Seem At The Time.

The Rough And Ready Improvisational Quality To Life On Board The International Space Station Is Reminiscent Of A Long Trip In A Sailboat: Privacy And Fresh Produce Are In Short Supply, Hygiene Is Basic, And A Fair Amount Of The Crew's Time Is Spent Just On Maintaining And Repairing The Craft.

In Any Field, It's A Plus If You View Criticism As Potentially Helpful Advice Rather Than As A Personal Attack.

There Is A Sunrise Or A Sunset From Space Every 92 Minutes So There Is An Incredible Amount Of Beauty To See From Up There.

Still, I Also Know That Most People, Including Me, Tend To Applaud The Wrong Things: The Showy, Dramatic Record-setting Sprint Rather Than The Years Of Dogged Preparation Or The Unwavering Grace Displayed During A String Of Losses. Applause, Then, Never Bore Much Relation To The Reality Of My Life As An Astronaut, Which Was Not All About, Or Even Mostly About, Flying Around In Space.