I think there would be no shortage of applicants to the government astronaut corps to be settlers on the planet Mars. And I think this would be very inspiring.
A few months after NASA was formed, I was asked if I knew anyone who would like to set up a program in space astronomy.
NASA has never had a problem finding capable people to be astronauts. NASA's problem was, and still is, finding ways to cut the list of capable applicants down to a manageable length.
I wouldn't oppose a women's astronaut training program; I just see no requirement for it.
Two months after I got out of test pilot school, I saw an advert that said NASA was recruiting more astronauts. The best job you could have as a test pilot was being an astronaut, so I volunteered.
Although as a boy I had dreamed about going into space, I had completely forgotten about that until one day I received a call from an astronaut, who suggested that I should join the program.
Well, for me it really wasn't a case of deciding to be an astronaut.
We are going to mint new astronauts from all communities. We want to influence public policy and opinion... by changing the mindset.
