." Coming from my earliest youth, air travel had actually regularly astounded me. I survived in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I didn't possess neighbors to go as well as have fun with. If I had not been operating, I was actually delegated to my personal devices, as well as usually, I would only be astounded by the creatures and especially, the birds of prey that I will see." To me, they embodied a freedom of some kind or yet another. These birds as well as the scenery they possess-- they may take in a great deal. So, coming from that point on, I knew I wanted to be involved in tour and aeronautics." I [delighted in] all factors trip, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain enough of it. I became a serious visitor, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a reader. I couldn't get sufficient product to read about my heroes coming from flight and space. They became my shining example and the path that they took entailed, at some point or even another, a rather thorough learning and commitment to doing well academically, physically, or athletically. Thus, I threw myself in to that whole type of mentality." When I was actually working with the Flying force, I managed to soar and deal with aircraft that I would dream around, taking a look at in the publications Flying Week as well as Space Innovation. Listed here they are actually, appropriate in front of me." ... Therefore, my career has actually been as close as possible to that of a tour test designer. And afterwards, precisely the heels of being spellbinded through climatic air travel, functioning in human spaceflight has actually put me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Principal Developer, NASA Engineering & Safety And Security Center, NASA's Ames .Picture Credit Report: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look at some of our various other Faces of NASA.