." From my earliest childhood, air travel had actually constantly captivated me. I lived out in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I didn't possess neighbors to go as well as play with. If I wasn't working, I was actually left to my personal units, and also typically, I will just be actually captivated due to the wild animals and particularly, the beast of preys that I will find." To me, they embodied a freedom of some kind or even an additional. These birds as well as the sight they possess-- they may enjoy a great deal. So, from that point on, I recognized I desired to be actually associated with flight and air travel." I [appreciated] all factors air travel, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain enough of it. I became an enthusiastic visitor, whereas previously, I wasn't much of an audience. I couldn't receive sufficient material to check out my heroes from air travel and area. They became my good example and the course that they took included, at some time or one more, a pretty thorough education and learning and commitment to doing well academically, literally, or athletically. Thus, I tossed myself in to that entire sort of mindset." When I was actually working with the Air Force, I had the capacity to fly and work on airplane that I would certainly fantasize around, examining in the publications Air travel Full week and Area Technology. Here they are, best facing me." ... So, my career has actually been as close as achievable to that of a trip test developer. And afterwards, right on the heels of being astounded by atmospheric trip, operating in individual spaceflight has actually placed me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Chief Designer, NASA Engineering & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Image Credit History: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Look at several of our various other Images of NASA.