Space Mom -- July 10, 2005

  -- A weekly feature on This Week.

Our voice this week is Eileen Collins. She was the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, and is the commander of this week's Discovery mission, the first shuttle mission since the Columbia tragedy two years ago. It's not set to take off until Wednesday, but this mom has already faced the worst part of her job.

Eileen Collins, space shuttle commander: The hardest thing about a mission is saying goodbye to your child the night you go into quarantine.

I have talked to my daughter. I tell her, "You are going to be a little bit afraid when I fly this flight. That is just the way it is. That is human nature. I want you to know that is normal. I also want you to know that I would not fly this flight if I did not believe that I was going to be safe and come back in the same condition I went up in." I also have a 4-year-old son and I think it is a little different. I explain to him that I will be gone for a little while, but I will be back.

As I look back to when I was a child, I lived a good portion of my life at the edge of my town. And myself and my friends would explore the forest and the creeks, and we would go sliding up in the mountains. I think it just grew on me, that I like to get out and explore, and get away from the insanity of life, and go out and just learn new things at my own pace.

When people ask about the risk of space flight, is it worth it, I like to refer back to history to explorers who travel across the ocean to places where we've never been before, just because it is our human nature to explore and to learn, and to find better way of life and a better way to live.

Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Kimmel: Saddam says it's fine with him: He wants that guy with the funny white hair who defended Michael Jackson. But if he's not available, I saw someone on TV last night who I think might be a good fit."

Fake TV lawyer: Are you a victim of a slip and fall? Workplace injury? Hit and run? Or invasion and occupation of your country based on unsubstantiated allegations of weapons of mass destruction? I am Alan Greenberg of the law firm Rosner and Greenberg. Call us today and remember our guarantee: If you are executed for mass murder, you pay nothing.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien:

O'Brien: Shocking, but earlier this week Ralph Nader's 2004 election coordinator was found guilty of election fraud. Ralph Nader, yeah. Apparently Nader didn't really get six votes, he got five.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:

Leno: President Bush [was] riding his bicycle when he collided with a police officer and fell off. No, it's true. Luckily he was not injured. The ironic thing is Bush could have avoided the collision. But you know Bush: He refuses to go left.