." Coming from my earliest childhood, flight had constantly spellbinded me. I lived out in the boonies as well as the fields, so I didn't possess neighbors to go and enjoy with. If I wasn't working, I was actually delegated my very own tools, and also frequently, I would simply be actually mesmerized due to the wild animals and especially, the birds of prey that I would see." To me, they exemplified a flexibility of some kind or even an additional. These birds and the scenery they possess-- they can take in so much. Therefore, from that aspect on, I understood I would like to be actually associated with air travel and aeronautics." I [delighted in] all traits trip, all factors spaceflight. I couldn't get sufficient of it. I ended up being a passionate reader, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a reader. I couldn't get enough product to check out my heroes from air travel as well as area. They became my role models and also the path that they took entailed, eventually or an additional, a pretty rigorous education and learning as well as commitment to perform properly academically, actually, or even athletically. Therefore, I tossed on my own right into that whole entire form of mentality." When I was actually helping the Air Force, I was able to fly and work with airplane that I would certainly hope about, examining in the publications Aviation Week and also Area Innovation. Listed here they are, correct before me." ... So, my occupation has been actually as close as possible to that of an air travel test designer. And afterwards, exactly on the heels of being actually astounded by atmospheric flight, doing work in human spaceflight has actually put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Principal Designer, NASA Design & Security Center, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Debt: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at several of our various other Faces of NASA.