." From my earliest childhood years, flight had constantly astounded me. I endured in the boonies and the fields, so I didn't have next-door neighbors to go as well as have fun with. If I had not been operating, I was delegated to my personal devices, as well as commonly, I would simply be captivated due to the wildlife as well as in particular, the beast of preys that I would certainly see." To me, they exemplified a freedom of some kind or even another. These birds as well as the perspective they possess-- they can enjoy a lot. So, coming from that aspect on, I knew I wished to be actually associated with air travel as well as aviation." I [delighted in] all traits flight, all points spaceflight. I couldn't acquire enough of it. I came to be an avid visitor, whereas before, I wasn't much of a reader. I could not get sufficient product to check out my heroes from air travel and also area. They became my shining example as well as the course that they took involved, at some time or another, a rather rigorous education and commitment to accomplish properly academically, actually, or athletically. Thus, I threw on my own in to that whole sort of mindset." When I was helping the Air Force, I had the capacity to soar and focus on plane that I would dream about, looking at in the journals Aeronautics Week and also Area Modern Technology. Below they are actually, appropriate in front of me." ... So, my occupation has been as close as achievable to that of an air travel exam developer. And afterwards, exactly on the heels of being captivated by atmospheric flight, working in individual spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Main Developer, NASA Engineering & Security Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Image Debt: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Browse through several of our various other Faces of NASA.