." Coming from my earliest childhood, flight had regularly astounded me. I endured in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I failed to possess neighbors to go and play with. If I had not been working, I was entrusted to my own gadgets, as well as frequently, I will only be spellbinded by the wildlife and also in particular, the predators that I will view." To me, they exemplified a flexibility of some kind or even an additional. These birds as well as the view they have-- they can easily absorb a lot. Therefore, coming from that point on, I knew I desired to be involved in air travel as well as air travel." I [delighted in] all points air travel, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't receive good enough of it. I came to be an avid visitor, whereas before, I wasn't much of a viewers. I couldn't acquire sufficient material to read about my heroes from tour as well as room. They became my good example and also the pathway that they took entailed, eventually or an additional, a quite rigorous education and learning and commitment to carry out effectively academically, actually, or athletically. Therefore, I threw on my own into that whole sort of state of mind." When I was actually working for the Flying force, I was able to fly and also deal with aircraft that I would hope about, considering in the journals Flying Full week and also Area Technology. Listed here they are actually, appropriate facing me." ... Thus, my career has actually been actually as close as feasible to that of a trip exam developer. And afterwards, right on the heels of being actually captivated through atmospheric tour, functioning in human spaceflight has placed me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Main Designer, NASA Design & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames Research Center.Image Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at a number of our various other Faces of NASA.