." Coming from my earliest childhood, tour had actually consistently captivated me. I endured in the boonies and the fields, so I didn't possess next-door neighbors to go and enjoy with. If I wasn't functioning, I was delegated my personal units, as well as often, I would just be actually captivated due to the wild animals and also particularly, the beast of preys that I will view." To me, they exemplified a liberty of some kind or even an additional. These birds as well as the scenery they possess-- they may consume a great deal. Therefore, coming from that aspect on, I recognized I would like to be associated with air travel and also air travel." I [taken pleasure in] all factors trip, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain enough of it. I became an experienced visitor, whereas in the past, I wasn't a lot of a reader. I couldn't receive enough product to read about my heroes from air travel and also room. They became my shining example and also the pathway that they took entailed, at some point or another, a fairly extensive education and learning and commitment to accomplish well academically, literally, or athletically. Thus, I threw myself right into that entire type of state of mind." When I was actually helping the Flying force, I managed to soar and also work on aircraft that I would certainly fantasize approximately, looking at in the journals Aviation Week and also Area Innovation. Here they are, ideal in front of me." ... Therefore, my profession has actually been as close as possible to that of a flight exam developer. And then, precisely the heels of being mesmerized through atmospheric trip, doing work in human spaceflight has actually put me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Chief Designer, NASA Design & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames .Image Credit Scores: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look at several of our various other Faces of NASA.