." From my earliest youth, trip had actually consistently astounded me. I lived out in the boonies and also the farmlands, so I didn't possess neighbors to go and also have fun with. If I had not been functioning, I was actually entrusted to my own devices, as well as often, I would merely be astounded by the creatures and also particularly, the predators that I would certainly view." To me, they embodied a liberty of some kind or yet another. These birds and also the perspective they have-- they can take in a great deal. So, from that point on, I recognized I wanted to be actually involved in flight and also air travel." I [enjoyed] all points tour, all things spaceflight. I couldn't obtain sufficient of it. I became an avid viewers, whereas in the past, I had not been much of a viewers. I could not obtain sufficient product to check out my heroes coming from air travel and also space. They became my role models as well as the course that they took included, eventually or even one more, a quite rigorous education and also devotion to perform effectively academically, actually, or athletically. So, I tossed on my own in to that entire type of way of thinking." When I was actually helping the Aviation service, I managed to fly and also deal with plane that I would certainly dream approximately, checking out in the publications Flying Full week and also Space Innovation. Here they are, right in front of me." ... Therefore, my job has been as close as achievable to that of a tour exam designer. And afterwards, exactly on the heels of being astounded by atmospherical trip, functioning in human spaceflight has placed me over the Moon.".-- Dr. Donald Mendoza, Chief Designer, NASA Engineering & Protection Center, NASA's Ames Research Center.Picture Credit Score: NASA/Dominic HartInterviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos.Take a look at some of our various other Faces of NASA.