." Coming from my earliest youth, air travel had actually consistently captivated me. I lived out in the boonies and the farmlands, so I didn't possess neighbors to go as well as enjoy with. If I had not been operating, I was left to my own gadgets, and also typically, I would certainly only be actually mesmerized due to the creatures and also especially, the predators that I would observe." To me, they embodied a freedom of some kind or even yet another. These birds and the scenery they have-- they can enjoy so much. Therefore, coming from that factor on, I knew I desired to be actually involved in flight as well as air travel." I [taken pleasure in] all traits tour, all traits spaceflight. I could not receive enough of it. I became a passionate reader, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a reader. I couldn't acquire sufficient component to review my heroes from air travel and area. They became my shining example as well as the path that they took involved, at some time or even one more, a rather extensive learning as well as devotion to accomplish properly academically, literally, or even athletically. Thus, I threw on my own right into that whole sort of perspective." When I was actually working for the Flying force, I was able to soar and work on plane that I would certainly dream about, considering in the magazines Aviation Week and also Area Innovation. Right here they are, appropriate facing me." ... Thus, my occupation has been actually as close as feasible to that of an air travel exam designer. And after that, directly on the heels of being actually astounded through atmospherical flight, working in human spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Principal Engineer, NASA Engineering & Protection Center, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at a few of our other Images of NASA.