“ But even in elementary school and junior high, I was very interested in space and in the space program. ”
When you're getting ready to launch into space, you're sitting on a big explosion waiting to happen.
~ Sally Ride
The stars don't look bigger, but they do look brighter.
So most astronauts getting ready to lift off are excited and very anxious and worried about that explosion - because if something goes wrong in the first seconds of launch, there's not very much you can do.
No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.