." Coming from my earliest youth, tour had actually constantly astounded me. I lived out in the boonies as well as the fields, so I didn't possess next-door neighbors to go as well as have fun with. If I wasn't working, I was entrusted to my very own units, and also typically, I would only be spellbinded due to the creatures and also especially, the raptorial birds that I will find." To me, they embodied a liberty of some kind or yet another. These birds and the sight they have-- they can easily enjoy so much. So, coming from that factor on, I recognized I wished to be involved in tour and also aeronautics." I [enjoyed] all traits flight, all things spaceflight. I could not obtain enough of it. I ended up being a devoted visitor, whereas previously, I wasn't much of an audience. I couldn't acquire sufficient material to check out my heroes from tour and area. They became my shining example as well as the pathway that they took included, at some time or yet another, a rather strenuous education and learning and also commitment to carry out well academically, actually, or even athletically. Thus, I tossed on my own in to that entire kind of way of thinking." When I was helping the Air Force, I managed to soar and also work on airplane that I would certainly hope approximately, examining in the publications Air travel Full week and Space Technology. Below they are actually, correct in front of me." ... So, my career has been as close as achievable to that of an air travel exam developer. And afterwards, right on the heels of being astounded through atmospherical trip, operating in individual spaceflight has put me over the Moon.".-- Doctor Donald Mendoza, Chief Engineer, NASA Design & Protection Center, NASA's Ames Research Center.Graphic Credit Report: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Take a look at a few of our other Faces of NASA.