." Coming from my earliest childhood, flight had always captivated me. I lived out in the boonies and also the fields, so I failed to possess neighbors to go and also play with. If I had not been working, I was entrusted to my very own units, and usually, I would only be actually captivated due to the creatures and in particular, the raptors that I will view." To me, they embodied a liberty of some kind or one more. These birds and also the view they have-- they may enjoy so much. Therefore, from that factor on, I understood I wished to be associated with trip and also flying." I [delighted in] all things trip, all traits spaceflight. I couldn't get good enough of it. I became a passionate visitor, whereas previously, I had not been much of a visitor. I could not obtain enough product to review my heroes from tour as well as room. They became my role models and also the road that they took involved, eventually or another, a quite extensive education and learning as well as commitment to perform well academically, actually, or even athletically. Therefore, I tossed myself into that entire type of mentality." When I was actually working with the Flying force, I managed to soar and also deal with airplane that I will fantasize approximately, considering in the journals Aviation Full week and Area Technology. Listed below they are actually, correct in front of me." ... Therefore, my job has actually been actually as close as possible to that of a tour exam developer. And then, exactly on the heels of being astounded through atmospheric air travel, operating in individual spaceflight has set me over the Moon.".-- Physician Donald Mendoza, Principal Developer, NASA Engineering & Protection Facility, NASA's Ames Proving ground.Graphic Credit Scores: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Take a look at a number of our other Images of NASA.