." From my earliest childhood years, air travel had actually regularly mesmerized me. I lived out in the boonies and also the fields, so I didn't possess neighbors to go and play with. If I wasn't operating, I was left to my personal tools, as well as typically, I will only be actually astounded by the wild animals and also particularly, the raptorial birds that I will view." To me, they embodied a freedom of some kind or even another. These birds and the view they have-- they can absorb a lot. Therefore, from that point on, I understood I intended to be actually associated with trip and air travel." I [enjoyed] all points trip, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain good enough of it. I came to be a devoted audience, whereas before, I wasn't much of a visitor. I could not acquire adequate product to review my heroes coming from flight as well as room. They became my shining example as well as the path that they took included, at some time or even another, a rather thorough education and devotion to perform effectively academically, actually, or athletically. Therefore, I tossed myself right into that entire sort of mindset." When I was actually helping the Air Force, I had the ability to soar and deal with plane that I will fantasize around, taking a look at in the journals Aviation Full week and also Area Modern Technology. Here they are, correct facing me." ... So, my profession has been actually as close as achievable to that of a flight exam designer. And afterwards, right on the heels of being captivated by atmospherical air travel, working in human spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Chief Engineer, NASA Design & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames Research Center.Picture Debt: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look into a few of our various other Images of NASA.