JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Texas -- He's going back. El Paso's very own astronaut, Danny Olivas, is in the final stages of preparation for his next space shuttle mission, and on Thursday only KFOX sat down with him for a one-on-one interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"I didn't really know what to expect," said Olivas.

Olivas is talking about the first time around he was assigned to a shuttle mission. But now he's a veteran, and he's trying to pass on all of his knowledge, experience, and expectations to the rookies.

"Hey look, we're going to get up there and everything that we planned for today, there is a good chance that it's not going to happen that way, something else is going to happen, but we just have to be flexible and be ready to respond," said Olivas, explaining what he has said to his fellow astronauts.

From talking one on one with Olivas, you can tell he is also partly living this mission through the first timers.

"I remember when I was going through it for the first time and how excited I was and to see how excited they are and I'm excited for them, and I'm equally excited to see them have an opportunity to experience micro-g for the first time," Olivas said exclusively to KFOX.

And Olivas still realizes how important his work is, and the dangers that go with it.

"I believe in this program, I believe in space exploration, I believe in what we are doing as human beings, and because I believe that, I've signed up and said I'm willing to put my life on the line to pursue that," he said.

The launch is taking place on Aug. 24 with a scheduled liftoff time of 11:36 p.m. in El Paso. KFOX will be in Cape Canaveral, live for the shuttle launch.