." From my earliest childhood years, air travel had actually constantly astounded me. I survived in the boonies and also the fields, so I really did not possess neighbors to go and play with. If I wasn't functioning, I was actually left to my own gadgets, as well as typically, I will just be spellbinded by the creatures and also specifically, the raptors that I would see." To me, they represented a liberty of some kind or even one more. These birds as well as the scenery they possess-- they can take in a great deal. Therefore, coming from that factor on, I recognized I intended to be actually associated with flight and also aeronautics." I [delighted in] all traits trip, all factors spaceflight. I couldn't get enough of it. I became an experienced audience, whereas previously, I wasn't much of a viewers. I could not obtain sufficient component to review my heroes from trip and also space. They became my role models and also the pathway that they took entailed, at some time or yet another, a fairly rigorous learning and commitment to accomplish properly academically, actually, or even athletically. Thus, I threw myself into that entire sort of state of mind." When I was actually helping the Flying force, I had the capacity to soar as well as focus on airplane that I would fantasize around, examining in the publications Aviation Week and also Area Modern Technology. Listed here they are, right before me." ... Thus, my job has been actually as close as achievable to that of a tour examination developer. And after that, exactly on the heels of being actually captivated through atmospheric flight, operating in individual spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Main Developer, NASA Design & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Take a look at a number of our other Images of NASA.