Alan Shepard quotes from The Right Stuff (1983)

I guess you've heard about our project. We're going up against the Russians all the way. It's got the highest...

Priorities.

It's a hazardous undertaking. In fact, it's extremely hazardous, if you get my meaning.

It's so hazardous, that, if, uh, you decide not to volunteer, it will not be held against you in any way.

Alan Shepard

Sounds dangerous.

It is.

Very dangerous.

Alan Shepard

Count me in.

Uh, where are you putting the window?

Window? There is no window.

No window? What about the hatch?

The hatch?

Yeah, the hatch. We need a hatch with explosive bolts that we can open ourselves.

I think there is something you do not understand. This is the final form of the capsule. No hatch.

What if the automatic controls went out?

Backups, checks, etcetera. This would not happen.

I said, what would happen if it did?

The pilot would have to fly it back.

This is the way it is.

John Glenn

You know, I wonder how the press is going to feel about this.

The press? What does the press have to say about this?

Yeah, what do they have to say about it?

You boys know what makes this bird go up? Funding makes this bird go up.

That's right. No bucks, no Buck Rogers.

And, uh, the press over there, they want to see Buck Rogers.

And that's us. Buck Rogers.

John Glenn

You see, those fellas over there, they've been making us out as the seven finest, and bravest pilots in all America. And if a story were to come out in the press that we were not being allowed to fly as pilots...

Alan Shepard

We want a window.

Uh, there could maybe be in future capsules, be a window, right here.

No, that's where the hatch with explosive bolts goes.

The hatch with the explosive...? Yeah. There could be a hatch with explosive bolts on the capsule.

Alan Shepard

That is a spacecraft, sir. We do not refer to it as a "capsule". Spacecraft.

Yeah. The hatch with explosive bolts on the... spacecraft. There. And there will be pitch and yaw thrusters which will enable the astronaut occupant—

The pilot. "Astronaut occupant"?

Yeah, the astronaut... pilot to have some...

To have...

... control of the re-entry procedures.

John Glenn

Thank you. we appreciate it. You wouldn't mind if we had the press over here take a few photos of us by our spacecraft now, would you?

Alan Shepard

Dear Lord - please don't let me **** up.

I didn't quite copy that. Say again, please.

Alan Shepard

Uh, I said everything is A-OK!

Well, I thought that's what you said. [switches channels] He says everything is A-OK!