." Coming from my earliest childhood, tour had actually consistently captivated me. I lived out in the boonies as well as the fields, so I really did not possess neighbors to go and also enjoy with. If I had not been working, I was entrusted to my personal gadgets, as well as often, I would certainly just be captivated due to the wild animals and especially, the predators that I would certainly see." To me, they represented a flexibility of some kind or even yet another. These birds and also the scenery they possess-- they can easily consume a lot. Therefore, from that point on, I knew I desired to be associated with flight and flying." I [taken pleasure in] all traits flight, all things spaceflight. I couldn't get enough of it. I became an enthusiastic reader, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a viewers. I couldn't obtain sufficient material to read about my heroes from tour as well as room. They became my good example as well as the road that they took involved, at some time or yet another, a pretty extensive education as well as dedication to carry out properly academically, literally, or athletically. So, I threw myself right into that entire kind of perspective." When I was working for the Flying force, I had the ability to soar as well as work with aircraft that I will hope about, checking out in the publications Aeronautics Full week and Area Innovation. Listed here they are, ideal before me." ... So, my profession has been actually as close as achievable to that of an air travel exam designer. And afterwards, right on the heels of being actually mesmerized by atmospherical flight, doing work in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Principal Engineer, NASA Design & Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Image Credit Score: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at a number of our other Images of NASA.