So, whenever Scooter was the Pilot, he never had a chance to fly the orbiter. So, the joke is: I'm going to have a chance to fly it first and hand it over to him.

The quote by Duane G. Carey is a lighthearted remark about the Space Shuttle program and his colleague nicknamed Scooter. Carey explains that when Scooter served as the Pilot, he never actually had the chance to fly the orbiter manually. The joke is that Carey will be the first to get that opportunity and then “hand it over” to Scooter, teasing him about finally letting him experience something he had missed.

The meaning centers on camaraderie and humor within the astronaut corps. Space missions are highly technical and serious endeavors, but astronauts often use humor to build bonds and ease tension. Carey’s joke reflects both the professional respect he has for Scooter and the friendly competition that can exist among astronauts over who gets to perform certain high-profile tasks, like flying the orbiter.

The origin of this statement comes from Carey’s time as a NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle pilot. He served as the pilot of STS-109, the fourth servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, in 2002. Within the astronaut community, nicknames and personal stories—like Scooter’s missed chance to fly—become part of the shared lore, often surfacing in interviews, mission briefings, or public appearances.

By sharing this anecdote, Carey gives the public a glimpse into the human side of spaceflight, where even elite professionals find moments to joke and celebrate each other’s achievements. It underscores that while space exploration is defined by precision and discipline, it is also fueled by team spirit, mutual respect, and a sense of shared adventure.