." From my earliest childhood, flight had actually constantly spellbinded me. I survived in the boonies and the farmlands, so I really did not have next-door neighbors to go and also enjoy with. If I had not been functioning, I was delegated to my very own gadgets, and also commonly, I would certainly only be captivated by the animals as well as especially, the raptorial birds that I will view." To me, they worked with an independence of some kind or yet another. These birds as well as the viewpoint they possess-- they may consume so much. So, from that aspect on, I understood I intended to be associated with tour as well as air travel." I [taken pleasure in] all factors trip, all points spaceflight. I couldn't get enough of it. I became a serious visitor, whereas before, I had not been much of a reader. I couldn't acquire enough product to check out my heroes coming from trip and room. They became my role models and also the path that they took included, eventually or even an additional, a quite strenuous education and learning as well as commitment to accomplish well academically, actually, or athletically. So, I tossed myself in to that whole entire form of state of mind." When I was actually helping the Air Force, I managed to soar and work on airplane that I would certainly hope about, examining in the magazines Aeronautics Week as well as Area Modern Technology. Listed here they are, correct before me." ... So, my career has been as close as achievable to that of a flight exam developer. And then, directly on the heels of being mesmerized by atmospherical flight, doing work in individual spaceflight has actually placed me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Principal Designer, NASA Engineering & Protection Center, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Debt: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look into a few of our various other Faces of NASA.