." From my earliest childhood years, air travel had consistently spellbinded me. I lived out in the boonies and the fields, so I didn't possess next-door neighbors to go as well as play with. If I wasn't working, I was delegated to my very own tools, and often, I will only be spellbinded by the wild animals and also specifically, the raptorial birds that I would certainly see." To me, they worked with a flexibility of some kind or even yet another. These birds as well as the viewpoint they have-- they can enjoy so much. Therefore, coming from that factor on, I knew I desired to be involved in tour and also air travel." I [enjoyed] all traits air travel, all traits spaceflight. I could not get sufficient of it. I ended up being an enthusiastic visitor, whereas before, I wasn't much of a visitor. I could not acquire sufficient material to check out my heroes coming from flight and space. They became my shining example and the path that they took involved, at some point or even an additional, a fairly extensive education and learning and also commitment to perform effectively academically, literally, or even athletically. Thus, I threw myself into that entire type of perspective." When I was benefiting the Air Force, I was able to soar and also work on plane that I will fantasize around, checking out in the publications Aviation Full week and Space Innovation. Here they are, appropriate facing me." ... Therefore, my career has actually been actually as close as achievable to that of a flight test designer. And afterwards, directly on the heels of being actually spellbinded through atmospheric tour, operating in individual spaceflight has actually set me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Main Developer, NASA Design & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Image Credit Score: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Browse through a few of our various other Images of NASA.