." From my earliest childhood, air travel had actually consistently mesmerized me. I survived in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I really did not possess neighbors to go and also have fun with. If I wasn't working, I was delegated to my very own tools, and frequently, I would certainly simply be spellbinded due to the animals and also particularly, the beast of preys that I would observe." To me, they exemplified a freedom of some kind or even an additional. These birds and the scenery they possess-- they can easily consume so much. Therefore, coming from that factor on, I recognized I intended to be involved in flight as well as flying." I [taken pleasure in] all traits air travel, all points spaceflight. I could not get sufficient of it. I ended up being an experienced visitor, whereas previously, I had not been a lot of a visitor. I could not receive enough material to review my heroes coming from air travel and also space. They became my shining example as well as the path that they took included, at some time or even one more, a quite rigorous learning and devotion to accomplish well academically, physically, or even athletically. Therefore, I tossed on my own right into that whole entire kind of mentality." When I was actually working with the Aviation service, I had the ability to soar and also focus on aircraft that I would fantasize around, checking out in the journals Air travel Full week as well as Area Technology. Listed here they are, best before me." ... So, my career has been actually as close as possible to that of a flight exam designer. And then, right on the heels of being mesmerized by atmospheric air travel, working in human spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Principal Developer, NASA Design & Safety And Security Center, NASA's Ames Research Center.Graphic Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Browse through some of our various other Images of NASA.