Space Quote by John Glenn
““I guess the question I'm asked the most often is: "When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?" Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts -- all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: NASA Oral History, 1990s
Spaceflight feels like standing on a massive, complex machine built cheaply, highlighting risk and trust in engineering.
In simple terms: Space travel feels risky due to low‑cost parts.
Key Takeaway
Respect engineering limits and demand quality.
Themes
space
risk
engineering
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
technical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- mission planning
- budget reviews
- public safety
Key Concepts
government contracts
cost cutting
technical reliability
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards are needed for low‑budget aerospace projects?
- How does public perception change after a risky launch?
A Different Perspective
Cost savings can compromise safety.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
