He wished to design rockets.  

Curbeam didn't always plan on being an astronaut. In junior high, he and a friend spent hours after school designing airplanes, rockets, cars -- mostly mechanical things. "We just loved science, and we thought the space program was just the most exciting thing in the aerospace field then. I never really thought that I would be the person climbing in someone else's design to go up to do the things I'll do. " Hearing Curbeam's enthusiasm makes you want to suit up and go with him.

 Astronauts are surprisingly normal people. They talk about how they're just part of a team; that flying to space is just part of their job. "It doesn't matter whether you're playing football or soccer, or whether you're on a business team trying to close a big deal you just want to do your best and live up to the standards which you hold yourself to and which your teammates expect of you. And if I can do that, I'll be a very, very happy guy when I come back," said Curbeam.

"It's really important to keep things attached to the station, including myself," said Curbeam. These spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), will be his first. He'll help install the lab by connecting plumbing, electrical power and data umbilicals. To combat microgravity, tethers and foot restraints hold astronauts in place while they work with special tools (cordless tools were invented to go into space), sometimes in frigid darkness or scorching sunlight. Backpacks regulate spacesuit temperature and feature a built-in propulsion system in case of emergency. Challenging, yes - but the view is spectacular.