He has had an interest in spacecraft since junior school and in middle school was moved by the experience of seeing the Space Travel Section of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Despite being shocked by the Challenger tragedy, he wanted to someday travel in space.
Ia berminat dengan ruang angkasa sejak SMP dan pada masa SMA memiliki pengalaman menyaksikan Space Travel Section di Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Meskipun terkejut oleh tragedi Challenger, ia ingin pergi ke ruang angkasa pada suatu waktu.