." Coming from my earliest childhood years, trip had regularly mesmerized me. I lived out in the boonies as well as the farmlands, so I failed to have neighbors to go and play with. If I wasn't functioning, I was actually delegated my very own devices, and frequently, I would certainly just be astounded by the wildlife and also especially, the birds of prey that I would view." To me, they worked with a freedom of some kind or another. These birds and the view they have-- they may take in a great deal. So, coming from that point on, I understood I intended to be involved in flight as well as flying." I [delighted in] all things trip, all things spaceflight. I could not get good enough of it. I came to be an experienced viewers, whereas before, I wasn't much of a viewers. I couldn't acquire adequate material to read about my heroes coming from flight and area. They became my role models and the path that they took included, at some time or even one more, a quite strenuous education and learning and also commitment to perform effectively academically, actually, or even athletically. Thus, I tossed myself in to that whole kind of state of mind." When I was benefiting the Aviation service, I had the ability to fly and also service aircraft that I would certainly dream about, considering in the publications Air travel Week as well as Room Technology. Listed below they are, appropriate facing me." ... Therefore, my occupation has actually been actually as close as possible to that of a trip examination developer. And then, directly on the heels of being actually astounded through atmospherical tour, functioning in individual spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Main Engineer, NASA Design & Security Center, NASA's Ames Research Center.Image Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Check out some of our other Images of NASA.