." From my earliest childhood years, flight had actually constantly captivated me. I survived in the boonies and the farmlands, so I failed to possess neighbors to go as well as have fun with. If I had not been functioning, I was delegated my own tools, and often, I would merely be mesmerized due to the wildlife and in particular, the raptorial birds that I would certainly view." To me, they exemplified a liberty of some kind or one more. These birds and also the view they possess-- they can absorb so much. So, coming from that aspect on, I understood I wished to be actually associated with trip as well as aeronautics." I [delighted in] all things flight, all points spaceflight. I couldn't obtain good enough of it. I became a passionate viewers, whereas before, I had not been a lot of a viewers. I couldn't acquire adequate material to check out my heroes coming from flight and area. They became my shining example as well as the road that they took entailed, at some time or another, a quite extensive education and learning as well as devotion to perform effectively academically, actually, or even athletically. So, I tossed on my own right into that whole type of mindset." When I was actually working for the Aviation service, I managed to fly and work with airplane that I would certainly dream around, examining in the publications Air travel Week and also Area Modern Technology. Here they are, correct in front of me." ... Therefore, my occupation has actually been actually as close as possible to that of a tour exam designer. And then, exactly on the heels of being actually mesmerized through climatic air travel, operating in individual spaceflight has actually put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Main Designer, NASA Design & Safety Center, NASA's Ames Research Center.Photo Credit Score: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Visit a few of our other Images of NASA.