." From my earliest childhood years, trip had actually constantly mesmerized me. I endured in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I didn't have next-door neighbors to go as well as enjoy with. If I wasn't working, I was actually delegated to my very own devices, as well as frequently, I will simply be actually captivated by the wild animals and especially, the beast of preys that I will see." To me, they stood for an independence of some kind or even another. These birds and also the view they have-- they may absorb so much. Therefore, coming from that point on, I knew I would like to be associated with trip and also air travel." I [appreciated] all things tour, all factors spaceflight. I could not obtain good enough of it. I came to be an experienced reader, whereas before, I wasn't a lot of a visitor. I couldn't receive enough component to review my heroes coming from tour and also room. They became my good example and also the course that they took included, eventually or another, a pretty rigorous education and learning and dedication to carry out properly academically, actually, or athletically. Thus, I threw myself in to that whole entire form of way of thinking." When I was actually benefiting the Aviation service, I managed to soar as well as work on aircraft that I would hope about, looking at in the publications Aviation Full week and also Space Innovation. Listed below they are actually, right in front of me." ... So, my career has actually been actually as close as feasible to that of an air travel test designer. And afterwards, exactly on the heels of being actually spellbinded by climatic trip, operating in human spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Main Engineer, NASA Engineering & Security Center, NASA's Ames .Graphic Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look at a number of our various other Images of NASA.