." Coming from my earliest childhood, trip had actually consistently spellbinded me. I lived out in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I really did not have neighbors to go as well as play with. If I had not been operating, I was actually delegated to my own gadgets, as well as commonly, I will just be actually captivated by the wild animals and also specifically, the beast of preys that I would certainly find." To me, they stood for an independence of some kind or another. These birds and also the sight they possess-- they can easily absorb a great deal. So, coming from that factor on, I knew I wished to be actually involved in trip and also aeronautics." I [enjoyed] all points flight, all things spaceflight. I could not acquire enough of it. I became an enthusiastic visitor, whereas before, I wasn't much of an audience. I couldn't get enough material to check out my heroes from tour as well as room. They became my good example and the path that they took involved, eventually or even one more, a pretty thorough learning and also commitment to accomplish effectively academically, actually, or even athletically. Thus, I tossed myself right into that whole sort of way of thinking." When I was helping the Aviation service, I was able to fly and also service aircraft that I would certainly dream around, taking a look at in the journals Aeronautics Week as well as Area Technology. Listed below they are, best in front of me." ... So, my career has been as close as possible to that of a trip test engineer. And afterwards, directly on the heels of being captivated by atmospheric flight, operating in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Main Developer, NASA Design & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames Research Center.Image Credit Rating: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Visit a few of our other Images of NASA.