I didn’t start skiing until I was 50. My wife Lois taught me how to ski. I’m proficiently conservative.

I have no intention of selling any more of the historical Apollo 11 items in my possession for the remainder of my life. I intend to pass a portion of these items on to my...

Some things just can’t be described. And stepping onto the moon was one of them.

When we get there, if we don’t find any life on Mars, from that point on there will be life on Mars because we’ll bring it there, whether it’s germs and leftover urine bags, whatever...

Russia perhaps is still entertaining the possibility that the moons of Mars might have access to ice or water.

Mars has been flown by, orbited, smacked into, radar inspected, and rocketed onto, as well as bounced upon, rolled over, shoveled, drilled into, baked, and even laser blasted.

Maybe it was the challenge of flight, the opportunity to fly, the competition of summer camp and the inspiration and discipline of West Point. I think all of those things helped me to develop a...

Everyone should take their hats off to Neil Armstrong. He is a humble guy who doesn’t wave his own flag.

America can take man to the moon, and America can take men to Mars – and beyond.

With his deeds, not only words, President Obama has revitalized our struggling space program.

I failed music when I was a teenager.

When President Kennedy took office, I was in the midst of my education.

Us reaching the moon convinced Gorbachev and other leaders that the Soviet Union couldn’t compete with the U.S., so they revised their agenda. But people have short memories.

The first footfalls on Mars will mark a historic milestone, an enterprise that requires human tenacity matched with technology to anchor ourselves on another world.

I came to dedicate my life to opening space to the average person and crafting designs for new spaceships that could take us far from home. But since Apollo ended, such travels were only in...

I understand that Detroit was a pretty rough place to grow up in the ’70s and ’80s.

I really hate to be put in the position of trying to justify something, a decision that was made. I’m a military guy: when a decision is made, I go along with it, whatever the...

If you want poets in space, you’ll have to wait.

Can you imagine, in 2030, taking a space cruise on the very ship that carried the first human beings to Mars? I can’t believe that people wouldn’t line up for that possibility.

Monumental achievements by humanity should be done by major organizations as much together as possible.

I was the first Navy, Marine or Air Force person who had been an astronaut to return back to the Air Force. I had certain expectations about what would be a reasonable and desirable position...

Space architectures capable of supporting a permanent human presence on Mars are extraordinarily complex, with many different interdependent systems.

A mind concerned about danger is a clouded mind. It’s paralyzing.

Save the taxpayer’s money by canceling the Ares 1 and V.

Mars, we know, was once wet and warm. Was it home to life? And what can living and learning to work on its rust-colored surface teach us about the future of our own planet, Earth?...

Mars is there, waiting to be reached.

If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.

American greatness was elevated significantly after Sputnik.

You can tell I’m not too bashful about some of my feelings.

I grew up in a country that I thought was special. And it was.

When you’re in a spacecraft, you need to know what things you can touch and what things you shouldn’t touch!

What’s aero braking? That’s a way to use the gravity and upper atmosphere of Earth to sling shot a ship out either deeper into space, or slow it down to be ‘captured’ by Earth’s gravity.

The purpose of going to Mars is for humans to first begin to occupy, permanently, another planet in the solar system. The astronauts or pilgrims, whatever you might call them, are going to be very...

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.

Is the destiny of the human species to sit back and play with our mouse and computer and imagine, fantasize?

I suggest that going to Mars means permanence on the planet – a mission by which we are building up a confidence level to become a two-planet species.

In Mars, we’ve been given a wonderful set of moons… where we can send continuous numbers of people.

Does it make sense for the U.S. to expend hundreds of billions of dollars to mount a new Apollo-style program to return to the moon? Or have we blazed that trail? Shouldn’t we help other...

There’s a historical milestone in the fact that our Apollo 11 landing on the moon took place a mere 66 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight.

If we go back to the moon, we’re guaranteed second, maybe third place because while we are spending all that money, Russia has its eye on Mars. Landing people on the moon will be terribly...

Space tourism is a logical outgrowth of the adventure tourist market.

‘Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame’ tells it like it really was in America’s early space program – the adventure, the risks, and the rewards.

Somebody would think I was trying to get favored treatment because my ancestors had the name Moon. And that’s a joke.

My father’s an early aviator, and my first flight was with him at age two. Now, despite the fact that I got sick on the flight, I still enjoyed it, I believe.

America’s can-do spirit cast a warm glow across nations and cultures, generating more goodwill and support for our country’s ideals and causes than had otherwise been possible.

Nobody cares about the bronze or silver medals.

Astronauts are not superhuman. They lead ordinary lives and have varied personalities.

Absolutely the United States should lead in space, for the survival of the United States. It’s inspiring for the next generation. If we lose leadership, then we’ll be using Chinese capability to inspire Americans.

I inherited depression from my mother’s side of the family.

You are not going to change the minds of people who are looking for attention.