My hat's off to those guys for integrating the [Dragon cargo carrier] and getting it up there and back. But the question around space is more the size of the market. We're focused on things that complement and will eventually compete with them. But we're also focused on a lot of things they can't do: deep space, crew handling and integration tasks. At some point, deep space will become a big deal. That's a place where Boeing has unique capabilities.

Airbus has established an A320 assembly line in China and has announced it will set one up in Mobile Ala. Can you see a day when Boeing has an assembly facility outside the U.S.?

Our globalization efforts have focused on technology cooperation in airplane components and services. As the market outside the U.S. grows, the pressure to look at more manufacturing—including, possibly, assembly outside this country—will grow. At some point it may make sense. It's just not part of our plans right now.

So that's not going to happen during your tenure at Boeing?

Probably not. That was an inside fastball you just threw at me. You slipped a succession question in there very nicely. I'm 62 years old. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.