The space station mission was kind of the culmination of all of my experience of being a NASA Astronaut, so it had brought all of my previous experience into play. I had to learn the Russian language to a fluent level so that I could function as the co-pilot of the Soyuz Spacecraft that we flew up and back from the space station. And then the challenge of being the Commander of the whole expedition, a six and a-half month flight aboard the international space station. I felt the burden of the whole mission on my shoulders, which was fine, and fortunately everything did go well.
Space is very unforgiving business - Leroy Chiao
Space is very unforgiving business
- Leroy Chiao
I had done everything I could do as an astronaut, and we have a long line of inexperienced astronauts waiting for their first missions, and so my rol… - Leroy Chiao
I had done everything I could do as an astronaut, and we have a long line of inexperienced astronauts waiting for their first missions, and so my rol…
Qian Xuesen, the father of the Chinese Space Program, studied in the United States, and he was a protégé of Theodore Von Carmen's at Cal Tech and hel… - Leroy Chiao
Qian Xuesen, the father of the Chinese Space Program, studied in the United States, and he was a protégé of Theodore Von Carmen's at Cal Tech and hel…
One of my challenges was to try to photograph the Great Wall of China. And I did actually take some photos, but it was hard to discern the wall with … - Leroy Chiao
One of my challenges was to try to photograph the Great Wall of China. And I did actually take some photos, but it was hard to discern the wall with …
I remember getting advice like, "Oh, do what interests you. Don't worry about tomorrow, live for today," kind of thing. And to a degree, you've got t… - Leroy Chiao
I remember getting advice like, "Oh, do what interests you. Don't worry about tomorrow, live for today," kind of thing. And to a degree, you've got t…
Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer by nature. - Leroy Chiao
Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer by nature.
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 m… - Leroy Chiao
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 m…
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 engineeri… - Leroy Chiao
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 engineeri…
As commander I was responsible for the overall success of the mission, and so I had to know at least a little bit about everything. - Leroy Chiao
As commander I was responsible for the overall success of the mission, and so I had to know at least a little bit about everything.
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