." Coming from my earliest childhood, tour had actually constantly mesmerized me. I lived out in the boonies and the farmlands, so I failed to possess neighbors to go as well as play with. If I wasn't working, I was actually delegated my personal devices, and typically, I would certainly merely be astounded due to the wild animals and also in particular, the birds of prey that I will find." To me, they worked with a flexibility of some kind or even another. These birds and the scenery they possess-- they can enjoy so much. So, from that factor on, I understood I wished to be actually involved in tour and aviation." I [delighted in] all points flight, all points spaceflight. I couldn't get sufficient of it. I ended up being a passionate reader, whereas in the past, I wasn't a lot of a reader. I could not obtain enough component to read about my heroes coming from tour as well as room. They became my shining example and also the pathway that they took included, at some time or another, a pretty thorough learning as well as dedication to carry out properly academically, actually, or even athletically. Thus, I tossed on my own right into that whole sort of perspective." When I was working for the Flying force, I managed to fly as well as service airplane that I would fantasize about, looking at in the magazines Flying Week as well as Room Technology. Listed below they are actually, best in front of me." ... Therefore, my profession has been as close as achievable to that of a flight examination developer. And afterwards, precisely the heels of being spellbinded by atmospheric flight, working in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Chief Designer, NASA Design & Safety And Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Visit some of our other Faces of NASA.