." Coming from my earliest childhood, trip had actually always captivated me. I survived in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I didn't possess neighbors to go and also enjoy with. If I had not been operating, I was actually delegated my own gadgets, and often, I would simply be captivated by the animals and also specifically, the birds of prey that I would see." To me, they stood for a flexibility of some kind or another. These birds and the view they possess-- they can easily absorb a lot. Therefore, coming from that point on, I knew I desired to be actually associated with trip and also flying." I [delighted in] all points trip, all factors spaceflight. I could not acquire good enough of it. I ended up being an enthusiastic visitor, whereas before, I had not been much of a reader. I couldn't get sufficient product to read about my heroes from air travel as well as area. They became my role models and the path that they took included, at some time or yet another, a rather rigorous education and also commitment to accomplish effectively academically, physically, or athletically. So, I tossed myself right into that whole entire form of way of thinking." When I was working with the Flying force, I had the ability to fly and focus on airplane that I will fantasize around, examining in the magazines Air travel Full week and also Room Innovation. Below they are actually, ideal in front of me." ... So, my career has been actually as close as possible to that of an air travel exam engineer. And afterwards, exactly on the heels of being mesmerized through atmospheric tour, doing work in individual spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Principal Developer, NASA Design & Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Credit Score: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at a number of our various other Images of NASA.