Mysteries of Flight

"One's devotion to something cannot be truly steadfast until it has withstood moments of doubt, for the plain reason that nothing is perfect - everything on earth is vulnerable to outside forces that can divert it from its intended or natural course. I remember once hearing a NASA official give an interview during a space shuttle's pre-liftoff.

'We have done all we need to do on our end,' the official told the media. 'We have crossed all of our "t's" and dotted all our "i's", and the shuttle is ready for liftoff. And at this point it is in the hands of God and very good weather.' "

Mohammed Naseehu Ali - "Mysteries of Flight", New Yorker, June 6 ,2008 and June 16, 2008.