." From my earliest childhood, air travel had actually always astounded me. I lived out in the boonies and the farmlands, so I failed to possess neighbors to go and play with. If I wasn't working, I was delegated my own gadgets, as well as commonly, I would certainly merely be actually mesmerized by the wild animals and also specifically, the raptorial birds that I would observe." To me, they exemplified a flexibility of some kind or even yet another. These birds as well as the scenery they possess-- they can easily absorb so much. So, from that aspect on, I knew I intended to be associated with trip and also flying." I [enjoyed] all traits trip, all things spaceflight. I could not receive sufficient of it. I came to be an enthusiastic reader, whereas before, I wasn't much of a viewers. I couldn't obtain enough component to review my heroes from trip as well as room. They became my role models and also the path that they took included, at some time or even yet another, a fairly rigorous education and dedication to accomplish effectively academically, physically, or even athletically. So, I tossed myself in to that entire type of perspective." When I was actually working with the Aviation service, I managed to soar and service aircraft that I would dream approximately, examining in the magazines Aeronautics Week as well as Room Innovation. Listed below they are actually, appropriate facing me." ... So, my career has actually been actually as close as possible to that of a trip test developer. And after that, precisely the heels of being spellbinded by climatic air travel, doing work in human spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Main Designer, NASA Design & Security Facility, NASA's Ames .Graphic Credit Rating: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Check out some of our various other Faces of NASA.