I never declared I wanted to be an astronaut, as I considered that was presumptuous.
Weightlessness is a wonderful experience. It feels like magic. It really does.
If you are not happy when you're weightless, then something's wrong.
In 1969 I was 16, and for me anything was possible. '2001: A Space Odyssey' was in theaters. Man's future in space seemed limitless, and here on TV to punctuate it all were men walking on the moon.
I remember going to London with my father in 1968 to see '2001: A Space Odyssey.' I just soaked in that movie. To me, that was real; it was going to happen.
The notion of getting the general public into low-Earth orbit I don't think is far-fetched at all.