--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ability of the humans to not only…" description: "\"The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the kinds of things we'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/kevin-a-ford-28402_ability_the-ability-of-the-humans-to-not-only-fu_2147047.jpg" --- # The ability of the humans to not only function in space… ![“The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the kinds of things we're learning from the science. Fuel transfer technologies and all the things we can learn about the space environment are all valuable to us for…” quote by Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/kevin-a-ford-28402_ability_the-ability-of-the-humans-to-not-only-fu_2147047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/kevin-a-ford-28402_ability_the-ability-of-the-humans-to-not-only-fu_2147047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/kevin-a-ford-28402_ability_the-ability-of-the-humans-to-not-only-fu_2147047.jpg) > “The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the kinds of things we're learning from the science. Fuel transfer technologies and all the things we can learn about the space environment are all valuable to us for pressing on out.” [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastering space travel requires both functional performance in orbit and effective utilization of resources upon arrival, informing broader technological advances. **In simple terms:** Space travel needs both in‑orbit function and on‑arrival utility. Key Takeaway Apply learned space tech to Earth challenges. Themes space exploration technology transfer innovation Mood optimistic inquisitive Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - Satellite servicing - Mars colonization - space station logistics - off‑world mining Key Concepts Systems engineering resource utilization environmental adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can we test these technologies on Earth before deployment? - What Earth problems benefit most from space‑derived solutions? A Different Perspective Space environments are harsh and unpredictable, limiting technology readiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destination/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Technologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technologies/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that all centers that appear in space - whether they originate in biology, in physical forces, in pure geometry, in color -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/i-believe-that-all-centers-that-appear-in-space-whether-they/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [ “\[...\]you learn how much space there is between the way you want to be seen, the way you feel inside, and the way other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-k/you-learn-how-much-space-there-is-between-the-way-you-want-to-be-seen/) [Isa K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-k/) > [“Yoga provides us with a set of tools for creating space between the input of life experiences and the output of our reactions. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-cohen-harper/yoga-provides-us-with-a-set-of-tools-for-creating-space-between-the/) Jennifer Cohen Harper > [Space is an environment of emptiness. It offers no possibility for natural adaptation to any living organism - and particularly not to the highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubertus-strughold/space-is-an-environment-of-emptiness-it-offers-no-possibility-for/) [Hubertus Strughold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubertus-strughold/) > [As a researcher, I look forward to being able to do space science in a space environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/as-a-researcher-i-look-forward-to-being-able-to-do-space-science-in-a/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [When you talk to crews that went to Mir or have gone up to International Space Station, they say that you go through different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/when-you-talk-to-crews-that-went-to-mir-or-have-gone-up-to/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [I think about pressing myself against him, but I can't, because all our secrets would keep a space between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-think-about-pressing-myself-against-him-but-i-can-t-because-all-our/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [There is no such thing as pressing on your own. You need to know where to stand, and you have to coordinate that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-bruyne/there-is-no-such-thing-as-pressing-on-your-own-you-need-to-know-where/) [Kevin De Bruyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-bruyne/) > [When I look at the chaotic and volatile debate right now, both in Germany and around the world, my impression and concern is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peer-steinbruck/when-i-look-at-the-chaotic-and-volatile-debate-right-now-both-in/) [Peer Steinbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peer-steinbruck/) > [Show Republicans a shiny pro-life or pro-marriage issue and they'd much rather address that controversial topic than keep pressing on the tyranny that Obamacare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/show-republicans-a-shiny-pro-life-or-pro-marriage-issue-and-they-d/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [If one elevator button has a star on it, I'm pressing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-novak/if-one-elevator-button-has-a-star-on-it-i-m-pressing-it/) [BJ Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-novak/) > [Food redistribution is economically sensible, ecologically pressing, and socially responsible; it is high time food corporations woke up to it and governments started funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/food-redistribution-is-economically-sensible-ecologically-pressing/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [It's rare that I'm able to get to my desk in the morning without stopping halfway there, turning around, and going in the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/it-s-rare-that-i-m-able-to-get-to-my-desk-in-the-morning-without/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [President Obama believes that income inequality is one of the most pressing matters facing the nation. If we are going to be a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-obama-believes-that-income-inequality-is-one-of-the-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hear that Brooke Ashley is also pressing charges. I don't know how she can prove anything. How can they prove anything, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/i-hear-that-brooke-ashley-is-also-pressing-charges-i-don-t-know-how/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) ## More by Kevin A. Ford > [Well, the coolest thing I have seen so far, in terms of, like, me being an astronaut and seeing something unusual, was the rendezvous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/well-the-coolest-thing-i-have-seen-so-far-in-terms-of-like-me-being/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I think someday, out in space, perhaps, some people might be able to grow some of their own food or hopefully on another planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-think-someday-out-in-space-perhaps-some-people-might-be-able-to/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [One of the things I do know is we know very little about our universe. Even though we think we know a lot, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/one-of-the-things-i-do-know-is-we-know-very-little-about-our-universe/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Space station is, it really is one of the more, if not the most, impressive technological achievement of the modern day, not only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/space-station-is-it-really-is-one-of-the-more-if-not-the-most/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [It's amazing to see the Earth in its glory down there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/it-s-amazing-to-see-the-earth-in-its-glory-down-there/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [It's much easier for me to sleep in space than it is back home. We sleep in a cabin, and you can float inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/it-s-much-easier-for-me-to-sleep-in-space-than-it-is-back-home-we/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Anytime I float by a window, I can tell whether the outside is lit or if it's dark outside. When we're working it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/anytime-i-float-by-a-window-i-can-tell-whether-the-outside-is-lit-or/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Space is dark but, of course, when we're on the sun side of the Earth, we're in full illumination and we have all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/space-is-dark-but-of-course-when-we-re-on-the-sun-side-of-the-earth/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [My first inclination was toward flying and being a pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/my-first-inclination-was-toward-flying-and-being-a-pilot/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I grew up in Montpelier, Indiana. It's a little town in the northeast corner of Indiana. It's a rural community; about two thousand people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-grew-up-in-montpelier-indiana-it-s-a-little-town-in-the-northeast/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I took a Russian class at Notre Dame. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fly someday in a Russian spacecraft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-took-a-russian-class-at-notre-dame-never-in-my-wildest-dreams-did-i/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [We spend our spare time taking care of little things. I can watch a little bit of college and professional football if I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/we-spend-our-spare-time-taking-care-of-little-things-i-can-watch-a/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I think if I had to choose, I would rather have gravity instead of zero gravity. It's fun for a while, but I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-think-if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-gravity-instead-of/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [When the guys come back in from the spacewalk, there really is a distinct smell of space; it's something I will never forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/when-the-guys-come-back-in-from-the-spacewalk-there-really-is-a/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [A lot of scientists on Earth think of things that they could do in zero g. Things like the way metals cure, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/a-lot-of-scientists-on-earth-think-of-things-that-they-could-do-in/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) [Explore all 19 Kevin A. Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the kinds of things we're learning from the science. 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