." Coming from my earliest childhood years, trip had consistently astounded me. I lived out in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I failed to possess neighbors to go and also enjoy with. If I wasn't working, I was delegated to my personal devices, and frequently, I would certainly simply be actually captivated due to the animals and specifically, the predators that I will see." To me, they embodied a flexibility of some kind or yet another. These birds and also the sight they possess-- they can easily enjoy a great deal. So, from that point on, I knew I intended to be actually involved in air travel and aviation." I [appreciated] all traits trip, all things spaceflight. I could not receive enough of it. I ended up being a serious reader, whereas previously, I wasn't a lot of an audience. I could not get adequate material to read about my heroes from tour as well as room. They became my role models and the pathway that they took included, at some time or an additional, a rather strenuous learning as well as dedication to carry out properly academically, actually, or even athletically. Therefore, I tossed myself right into that whole form of way of thinking." When I was working for the Air Force, I was able to soar and also work on airplane that I will dream around, examining in the journals Aeronautics Week and Room Modern Technology. Right here they are actually, best in front of me." ... Therefore, my occupation has been actually as close as possible to that of a trip examination engineer. And afterwards, precisely the heels of being captivated by atmospheric trip, functioning in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Chief Designer, NASA Engineering & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames .Graphic Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at a few of our various other Images of NASA.