." From my earliest childhood, air travel had actually always mesmerized me. I survived in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I failed to have neighbors to go as well as play with. If I had not been functioning, I was delegated my own tools, and often, I would merely be mesmerized by the wildlife and also particularly, the birds of prey that I will see." To me, they exemplified a freedom of some kind or even yet another. These birds and also the scenery they possess-- they may take in a lot. Therefore, from that aspect on, I recognized I would like to be actually involved in air travel as well as flying." I [appreciated] all traits tour, all traits spaceflight. I could not receive sufficient of it. I came to be a passionate audience, whereas previously, I had not been much of an audience. I could not acquire enough product to review my heroes from flight as well as room. They became my role models and also the path that they took involved, at some point or one more, a rather strenuous education and learning as well as devotion to perform well academically, literally, or even athletically. Thus, I tossed myself into that entire form of mindset." When I was actually working with the Aviation service, I managed to fly as well as service plane that I would certainly dream approximately, taking a look at in the journals Aviation Week and Space Modern Technology. Listed below they are, correct before me." ... Therefore, my job has been as close as possible to that of an air travel test designer. And afterwards, precisely the heels of being astounded by atmospheric tour, operating in individual spaceflight has actually set me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Main Designer, NASA Engineering & Safety And Security Center, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Picture Credit Scores: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Browse through some of our various other Faces of NASA.