I remember as we were driving to the launch pad, especially my last crew in Atlanta, we were making silly jokes acting like a bunch of school kids.

And then we get in and you strap in and then you wait.

You don't really chitchat too much because the whole world is listening.

So you just got to sit there and wait on your back.

Historically, on any given attempt to launch a shuttle, there's like a 50-50 shot it was actually going to go.

And that could be because bad weather, it could be a technical problem.

But then at the very end, they do this go-no-go pole, where everybody at the consuls goes, booster.

And he goes, go.

Fido.

Go. And once everybody says go

you suddenly realize that oh

today is today

then the engine's like

it's kind of like a motion simulator ride

the shaking and the noise isn't like totally nuts

but what's unique are the G forces

it feels like you weigh about three times as much

as you really do. You're lying down, and it feels like somebody is sitting on your chest, and it lasts

about eight and a half minutes long. The engine shut off, and immediately you go from three Gs to zero.

You put your arms up because it feels like you can get shot out of your seat.

And then you feel really stupid because you're just no longer being held down in your seat.

That was Garrett Reisman.

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