." From my earliest youth, air travel had actually consistently mesmerized me. I survived in the boonies and the fields, so I failed to possess next-door neighbors to go and also play with. If I had not been working, I was entrusted to my very own gadgets, and also frequently, I would certainly merely be actually mesmerized due to the creatures and also particularly, the predators that I would certainly view." To me, they exemplified an independence of some kind or even one more. These birds as well as the sight they possess-- they can easily take in a great deal. So, coming from that point on, I knew I wanted to be actually involved in tour and also aeronautics." I [delighted in] all points air travel, all traits spaceflight. I could not receive good enough of it. I became a devoted reader, whereas before, I wasn't a lot of an audience. I could not get sufficient material to check out my heroes coming from air travel as well as area. They became my role models and the pathway that they took entailed, at some time or even an additional, a pretty rigorous education and also devotion to doing properly academically, actually, or even athletically. So, I threw myself into that whole type of way of thinking." When I was actually working for the Air Force, I managed to soar and also work on plane that I would certainly fantasize approximately, looking at in the publications Air travel Full week and also Area Innovation. Listed below they are actually, right before me." ... Thus, my profession has actually been as close as feasible to that of a tour examination designer. And then, exactly on the heels of being captivated through climatic trip, doing work in human spaceflight has actually set me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Main Engineer, NASA Engineering & Safety And Security Center, NASA's Ames .Picture Credit: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Take a look at a few of our other Images of NASA.