." From my earliest youth, tour had actually consistently captivated me. I endured in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I really did not have neighbors to go as well as have fun with. If I wasn't working, I was entrusted to my own units, and also usually, I would simply be actually spellbinded by the creatures and in particular, the birds of prey that I would view." To me, they exemplified a freedom of some kind or even one more. These birds and also the viewpoint they possess-- they can easily consume so much. So, coming from that point on, I recognized I intended to be actually involved in trip and also air travel." I [taken pleasure in] all points flight, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't obtain sufficient of it. I came to be a serious reader, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a viewers. I could not get enough product to read about my heroes coming from trip and room. They became my good example and also the road that they took entailed, eventually or one more, a rather extensive learning as well as commitment to doing effectively academically, literally, or even athletically. So, I threw on my own right into that entire sort of mentality." When I was working for the Air Force, I was able to fly and also focus on aircraft that I would certainly dream about, checking out in the journals Air travel Week as well as Space Technology. Right here they are, appropriate in front of me." ... Thus, my career has been as close as possible to that of a tour test designer. And after that, right on the heels of being astounded by climatic flight, working in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Main Engineer, NASA Design & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames Research Center.Photo Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Have a look at some of our various other Faces of NASA.