." From my earliest childhood years, trip had consistently spellbinded me. I endured in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I really did not have neighbors to go and have fun with. If I had not been working, I was delegated to my personal devices, as well as typically, I would certainly only be actually mesmerized by the wildlife as well as specifically, the raptorial birds that I will observe." To me, they embodied a flexibility of some kind or another. These birds and also the view they possess-- they may take in a great deal. Therefore, from that factor on, I knew I intended to be associated with trip and air travel." I [appreciated] all things air travel, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain enough of it. I became an avid viewers, whereas before, I had not been much of a reader. I could not receive enough component to review my heroes from air travel and space. They became my good example as well as the course that they took included, at some time or even an additional, a rather rigorous education and commitment to perform effectively academically, physically, or even athletically. So, I tossed on my own into that entire kind of attitude." When I was actually working for the Air Force, I had the ability to soar as well as deal with airplane that I would fantasize approximately, considering in the magazines Aeronautics Full week and Space Technology. Listed here they are actually, ideal facing me." ... Therefore, my career has been actually as close as achievable to that of a trip examination developer. And after that, precisely the heels of being actually spellbinded through atmospheric trip, functioning in human spaceflight has actually placed me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Principal Developer, NASA Engineering & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames .Picture Credit Scores: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Browse through several of our other Faces of NASA.