It seems a little nutty to most of us, but I can totally understand why he's excited. If you're one of the few people up who have the ability, drive and passion to make this opportunity happen, then you take it. He knows knows the perils of his career, maybe he even feeds off the risk a little bit. But the opportunity to be a success at what these guys do, to look back at Earth from outer space... that's not something to give up, even if it means possibly giving up his life!