How to Make Things Faster

Chapter 110. Don’t Worry, Be Nervous

On April 12, 1981, test pilot and rookie astronaut Robert Crippen lay on his back in the pilot’s seat of Space Shuttle Columbia, awaiting the liftoff of mission STS-1, the new vehicle’s first test flight into space.

Although Crippen had never flown to space before, his preparation for this mission had been immense. He had a degree in aerospace engineering. He’d been a naval aviator for 20 years, a test pilot for 17, an astronaut for 15, and a member of the shuttle design team for more than 10.

Also on his back, in the seat left of Crippen, was mission commander John Young, who by this time had flown in space four times and even driven a car on the moon. Crippen told the story of how his much more experienced commander had helped him cope with the bit of nervousness he was feeling in the moments before liftoff.

“I knew it had its potential dangers, but a lot of things in life do,” Crippen said. “As John told me, he told me: ‘OK Crip, any time they’re getting ready to light off seven-and-a-half million pounds of thrust under you and you aren’t a little bit anxious, you don’t understand what’s going on.’”¹

I love this story. It demonstrates that it’s natural to feel nervous, even when you’re prepared. Even when you’re an astronaut. Don’t fear being nervous. Try to embrace it as your body’s gift of extra strength and focus for dealing with a meaningful event.

¹ “STS-1: ‘A Test Pilot’s Dream,’” CNN.com, April 14, 2006, https://oreil.ly/fMmDj.