---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: NASA wanted to assure its ability to…"
description: "\"NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the spacecraft in orbit for signs of damage.\" — Marc Garneau"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg"
---

#  NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the…

![“NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the spacecraft in orbit for signs of damage.” quote by Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg)

> “NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the spacecraft in orbit for signs of damage.”

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ensuring spacecraft safety requires thorough inspection capabilities while in orbit.

**In simple terms:** Inspecting orbiting spacecraft prevents damage.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize in‑orbit diagnostics.

Themes

space exploration engineering safety

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

technical pragmatic

When to use this quote

- satellite maintenance
- crew safety
- mission planning
- equipment design

Key Concepts

orbital mechanics damage detection

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance inspection costs with mission budgets?
- What new technologies could simplify in‑orbit checks?

A Different Perspective

Space inspections are costly and technically challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [NASA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasa/) [Orbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orbit/) [Signs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signs/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spacecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spacecraft/)

## Related quotes

> [I would love to see the world's space programs continue toward sending humans to an asteroid or to Mars, with, of course, a full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-would-love-to-see-the-world-s-space-programs-continue-toward/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [Man-made global warming was a potential serious threat, and NASA wanted Congress to fund new satellites to study the problem. It was a team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-spencer/man-made-global-warming-was-a-potential-serious-threat-and-nasa/)

[Roy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-spencer/)

> [It's been said that if NASA wanted to go to the moon again, it would have to start from scratch, having lost not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seely-brown/it-s-been-said-that-if-nasa-wanted-to-go-to-the-moon-again-it-would/)

[John Seely Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seely-brown/)

> [A spacecraft is a metaphor of national inspiration: majestic, technologically advanced, produced at dear cost and entrusted with precious cargo, rising above the constraints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-easterbrook/a-spacecraft-is-a-metaphor-of-national-inspiration-majestic/)

[Gregg Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-easterbrook/)

> [We would like to give special thanks to all those Americans who built the spacecraft; who did the construction, design, the tests, and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/we-would-like-to-give-special-thanks-to-all-those-americans-who-built/)

[Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/)

> [“It is conventional wisdom now that anything built by the government will be a disaster. But the two "Voyager" spacecraft were built by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-conventional-wisdom-now-that-anything-built-by-the-government/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [I have always loved aeroplanes and spacecraft and the design element.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muilenburg/i-have-always-loved-aeroplanes-and-spacecraft-and-the-design-element/)

[Dennis Muilenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muilenburg/)

> [Only man is a narcissistic enough species to think that a highly evolved alien life force would travel across billions and billions of light-years-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/only-man-is-a-narcissistic-enough-species-to-think-that-a-highly/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

> [“We tend to hear much more about the splendors returned than the ships that brought them or the shipwrights. It has always been that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-tend-to-hear-much-more-about-the-splendors-returned-than-the-ships/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [We are dealing with a yet unrecognized level of consciousness, independent of man but closely linked to the earth… I do not believe anymore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-vallee/we-are-dealing-with-a-yet-unrecognized-level-of-consciousness/)

[Jacques Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-vallee/)

> [The evidence is overwhelming that Planet Earth is being visited by intelligently controlled extraterrestrial spacecraft. In other words, SOME UFOs are alien spacecraft. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanton-t-friedman/the-evidence-is-overwhelming-that-planet-earth-is-being-visited-by/)

[Stanton T. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanton-t-friedman/)

> [Obviously you're looking out the window and you're seeing Earth and that's moving and then you're in a spacecraft now that can move on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-isaacman/obviously-you-re-looking-out-the-window-and-you-re-seeing-earth-and/)

[Jared Isaacman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-isaacman/)

> [The missing toothbrush was nothing compared with the fact that the spacecraft was orientated to ascend, not descend. I would have gone up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-tereshkova/the-missing-toothbrush-was-nothing-compared-with-the-fact-that-the/)

[Valentina Tereshkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-tereshkova/)

> [I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach into outer space on the Voyager spacecraft. But that would be boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-would-send-the-complete-works-of-johann-sebastian-bach-into-outer/)

[Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/)

> [Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft, and the only one that can be mass produced with unskilled labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-von-braun/man-is-the-best-computer-we-can-put-aboard-a-spacecraft-and-the-only/)

[Werner Von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-von-braun/)

## More by Marc Garneau

> [Canada and space are a natural fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/canada-and-space-are-a-natural-fit/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [After the Shuttle checks out on its two upcoming flights, it will be ready to take larger components up to the International Space Station…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/after-the-shuttle-checks-out-on-its-two-upcoming-flights-it-will-be/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [There are many experiments and a great deal of research that can be performed on the station that make a difference in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/there-are-many-experiments-and-a-great-deal-of-research-that-can-be/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [I like adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-like-adventure/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [The most fun to do in the weightlessness is going down the ladder headfirst, walking on the ceiling, chasing after M&amp;M's that you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/the-most-fun-to-do-in-the-weightlessness-is-going-down-the-ladder/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [Through these ongoing activities and possibly in the future, a Canadian will go live and work on the International Space Station and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/through-these-ongoing-activities-and-possibly-in-the-future-a/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [You're in orbit over the Earth. And suddenly it's very, very quiet. It's dramatic. You realize you're floating in the straps in your chair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/you-re-in-orbit-over-the-earth-and-suddenly-it-s-very-very-quiet-it-s/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [I wanted to further my education, so I went on to get a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and came back and served about ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-wanted-to-further-my-education-so-i-went-on-to-get-a-ph-d-in/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [I went to military college in Canada and graduated as an officer in the Navy but also as an engineer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-went-to-military-college-in-canada-and-graduated-as-an-officer-in/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [New standards for safety are now in place and Canada has helped provide tools and techniques that were needed. Technologies like these are innovative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/new-standards-for-safety-are-now-in-place-and-canada-has-helped/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [I think there's going to be a very sudden shift in people's perception of the International Space Station, because suddenly it's going to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-think-there-s-going-to-be-a-very-sudden-shift-in-people-s/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [What you aren't ready for being the first time in space - on an emotional and intellectual level - is how looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/what-you-aren-t-ready-for-being-the-first-time-in-space-on-an/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [The space industry is developing and delivering benefits that tie into our immediate needs and priorities here on Earth-for example, medical and materials research,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/the-space-industry-is-developing-and-delivering-benefits-that-tie/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [We have played a critical role in meeting the new safety standards. The Canadian space industry contributed new tools that make the inspection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/we-have-played-a-critical-role-in-meeting-the-new-safety-standards/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

> [I like the opportunity to travel the world and work in close company with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-like-the-opportunity-to-travel-the-world-and-work-in-close-company/)

[Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

[Explore all 25 Marc Garneau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/)

## 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": "NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the spacecraft in orbit for signs of damage.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marc Garneau"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-examine-the-spacecraft-in-orbit/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-examine-the-spacecraft-in-orbit/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marc-garneau-23579_ability_nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-exa_620846.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“NASA wanted to assure its ability to examine the spacecraft in orbit for signs of damage.” — Marc Garneau",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marc Garneau",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "NASA wanted to assure its ability...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-examine-the-spacecraft-in-orbit/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/nasa-wanted-to-assure-its-ability-to-examine-the-spacecraft-in-orbit/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
