Garrett Reisman

Summary

Garrett Erin Reisman (/ˈrsmən/; born February 10, 1968) is an American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He was a backup crew member for Expedition 15 and joined Expedition 16 aboard the International Space Station for a short time before becoming a member of Expedition 17. He returned to Earth on June 14, 2008 on board STS-124 on Space Shuttle Discovery. He was a member of the STS-132 mission that traveled to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis from May 14 to 26, 2010. He is a consultant at SpaceX and a Professor of Astronautics Practice at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering.[1]

Garrett Reisman
Reisman in 2007
Born
Garrett Erin Reisman

(1968-02-10) February 10, 1968 (age 56)
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BS)
California Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)
Space career
NASA astronaut
Time in space
107d 3h 15m
SelectionNASA Group 17 (1998)
Total EVAs
3
Total EVA time
21h 21m
MissionsSTS-123/124 (Expedition 16/17)
STS-132
Mission insignia
Scientific career
FieldsMechanical engineering
ThesisDynamics, Acoustics and Control of Cloud Cavitation on Hydrofoils (1997)
Doctoral advisorChristopher Brennen

Biography edit

Reisman was born in Morristown, New Jersey to a Jewish family. After graduating from Parsippany High School in 1986, he went to the Wharton School and the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where he respectively earned a B.S. degree in economics, as well in mechanical engineering & applied mechanics, both in 1991.[2][3] He subsequently attended the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he received an M.S. degree in 1992 and a Ph.D. in 1997, both in mechanical engineering.[4] While at Caltech he shared a doctoral advisor, Christopher E. Brennan, with another future NASA astronaut, Bob Behnken. Later both astronauts would launch on their first flights into space together on STS-123.[5]

NASA career edit

In June 2003, Reisman served as an aquanaut during the NEEMO 5 mission aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory, living and working under water for fourteen days.[6]

Expedition 16/17 edit

 
Garrett Reisman on the mid-deck of Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-123.

Reisman was assigned as a long duration crewmember on the International Space Station. He launched as Mission Specialist 5 aboard the STS-123 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) mission on March 11, 2008. After docking, he took part in the first spacewalk of the mission.[7] Reisman stayed on board as flight engineer 2 for part of Expedition 16 and part of Expedition 17. Having completed his mission, he returned to Earth as mission specialist 5 aboard STS-124 on June 14, 2008.[8] During his time on board the ISS he had seen two visiting Space Shuttles and the installation of the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) and the pressurized section of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo".[9]

Reisman was the first Jewish crew member on the International Space Station.[10] He sent a greeting from space to the people of Israel during the celebration of Israel's 60th Independence Day in May 2008.[11] He also did an entertaining, high definition video of "A day in the life of a space station crew member" while on board as well as demonstrating in the large, and at the time empty, Kibo section, that humans cannot "swim" in the microgravity of orbital space.[12]

STS-132 edit

Reisman was a member of the STS-132 mission that traveled to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis from May 14 to 26, 2010. He participated in two spacewalks during this mission.[13]

Post-NASA career edit

On March 4, 2011, SpaceX announced that Reisman would be joining the company as a senior engineer working on astronaut safety and mission assurance.[14] He was later promoted to director of crew operations.[15] On May 31, 2018, Reisman announced he would leave his position at SpaceX, but remain as a "consultant," stating he could not pass up a job to teach human spaceflight at the nearby University of Southern California.[1][16]

In popular culture edit

A self-proclaimed member of the "Colbert Universe", Reisman was interviewed live from space on the May 8, 2008 episode of The Colbert Report after being seen wearing a "WristStrong" bracelet.[4][17] On July 24, 2008, after returning to Earth, Reisman appeared in person on The Colbert Report as that night's featured guest.[18] Reisman presented Stephen Colbert with the WristStrong bracelet he had worn while in space.[18] Reisman appeared on the final episode of The Colbert Report.[19]

Reisman filmed a cameo appearance as a Colonial Marine for the series finale episode of Battlestar Galactica.[20] Space.com reported that his scene, in which "someone throws up on him and then he dies", might not be in the final edit of the episode which aired March 20, 2009.[20]

In the podcast for the final (as aired) episode, producer Ron Moore confirmed that one of the people seen in the background of a scene where a Raptor arms its nuclear payload (shortly before being destroyed) was Reisman.

In July 2019 it was reported that producer Ron Moore had created his alternative reality series For All Mankind after he and Reisman had discussed the possibility of a timeline in which the Soviet Union landed people on the Moon before the US.[21] Reisman also served as technical advisor for the show,[22] and guest appeared as Commander of a Moon Space Shuttle in season 2, episode 2.[23]

Reisman appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience on February 7, 2020.

Reisman was a childhood classmate of actress Jane Krakowski.[24] In May 2010, Krakowski said on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that she and Reisman exchanged e-mails while he was in space on Space Shuttle Atlantis. At the request of the crew, many of whom were 30 Rock fans, Krakowski provided an autographed script of the show which was brought into space.

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^ a b "Astronaut to join USC Department of Astronautical Engineering". news.usc.edu. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  2. ^ "NASA biography, GARRETT E. REISMAN (PH.D.), NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. June 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Jagoda, Naomi (2008-03-25). "Astronaut's career was launched here". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07.
  4. ^ a b Carreau, Mark (2008-05-08). "Astronaut trades jokes with Colbert in space interview". Houston Chronicle.
  5. ^ Brennen, Christopher E. "Former Graduate Students". Caltech. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. ^ NASA (March 21, 2006). "NEEMO History". NASA. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  7. ^ Dean, Brandi (January 29, 2008). "NASA – All Aboard for STS-123: The Station Goes Global". Johnson Space Center. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  8. ^ "Space shuttle takes its place on the pad". NBC News. 2008-05-03. Chamitoff will remain behind on the station, replacing astronaut Garrett Reisman, who began his stint as a member of the station's live-aboard crew during the last shuttle mission in March. Reisman will be returning to Earth in Chamitoff's place.
  9. ^ Dunn, Marcia (2008-06-02). "Shuttle makes big delivery to space station". NBC News.
  10. ^ Cashman, Greer Fay (8 May 2008). "Brown: Israel one of 20th century's 'greatest achievements'". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  11. ^ Shefler, Gil (8 November 2010). "Where (almost) no Jew has gone before". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  12. ^ Malik, Tariq (2008-06-30). "NASA Astronaut Readapts to Life on Earth". Space.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  13. ^ NASA (May 2010). "STS-132 Mission Summary (PDF)" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  14. ^ ""Astronaut Garriett Reisman Joins SpaceX" (March 4, 2011) SpaceX website". Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  15. ^ "Boeing, SpaceX seek to end ISS reliance on Russia". USA Today.
  16. ^ "SpaceX crew director moves to academia, says company will win race to space". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  17. ^ "Garrett Reisman – May 8, 2008". The Colbert Report. Comedy Central. 2008-05-08.
  18. ^ a b "Episode #04094 – July 24, 2008". The Colbert Report. Comedy Central. 2008-07-24. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008.
  19. ^ "Stephen & Friends - "We'll Meet Again" - December 18, 2014". The Colbert Report. Comedy Central. 2014-12-18.
  20. ^ a b "Real-life astronaut dishes 'Battlestar Galactica'; Three months on real space station followed by one day on fake spaceship". NBC News. March 19, 2009.
  21. ^ Radish, Christina (July 15, 2019). "'For All Mankind' Showrunner Ronald D. Moore on His Alt History Space Race Apple+ Series". Collider. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  22. ^ "For All Mankind — Jamestown Tour | Apple TV+". YouTube. 2020-05-06. Archived from the original on 2020-05-10.
  23. ^ "Interview: Astronaut Garrett Reisman guest stars on 'For All Mankind'". collectSpace.com. 2021-02-26.
  24. ^ "Actress Jane Krakowski, astronaut Garrett Reisman bring star power to Morris Tomorrow gala". 28 March 2009.

External links edit

  • Official website  
  • "NASA biography, GARRETT E. REISMAN (PH.D.), NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. June 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  • Spacefacts biography of Garrett Reisman
  • A day in the life of a Space Station Astronaut, filmed by Garrett Reisman