Failure is not an option.
From its earliest days, NASA had followed a policy of maximum, though prudent, disclosure. We had to do everything openly – and soon under intensive, live TV coverage.
To recognize that the greatest error is not to have tried and failed, but that in trying, we did not give it our best effort.
Let’s work the problem, people. Let’s not make things worse by guessing.
There is no such thing as good enough. You, your team, and your equipment must be the best. That is how you will win victories.
I don’t care what anything was designed to do, I care about what it can do.
We had risen to probably one of the greatest challenges in history, put a man on the moon in the decade. We’d created incredible technologies. But what was most important, we’d created the teams, what I call the human factor. People who were energized by a mission.
We’ve never lost an American in space, we’re sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option.
You can not operate in this room unless you believe that you are Superman, and whatever happens, you’re capable of solving the problem.
There is no achievement without risk.
I think everyone, once in his life, should be given a ticker-tape parade.