Ricardo Peralta y Fabi (August 15, 1950 – December 31, 2017[2]) was a Mexican mechanical engineer and former astronaut trainee[3] who was a backup for astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela on STS-61-B.[4][5] Peralta was one of three people selected among 400 applicants to the Mexican space program.
Ricardo Peralta | |
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Born | Ricardo Peralta y Fabi August 15, 1950 Mexico City |
Died | December 31, 2017 Mexico City | (aged 67)
Nationality | Mexican |
Occupation(s) | Mexican astronaut selectee, engineer, professor |
Known for | being the backup for Rodolfo Neri Vela |
Children | Ernesto Peralta Medina, Emiliano Peralta Medina, Liliana Peralta Magallón |
Status | Retired in 1985[1] |
Space career | |
Mexican astronaut | |
Selection | 1985[1] |
Peralta was the alternate of the first Mexican astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela at the time of the ultralight accident (bought as remuneration for astronaut training), in which he was seriously injured. He was unable to complete astronaut training and training at Indiana University. He left the corps of astronauts on 3 December 1985.[3]
He taught at the University in Mexico City for many years after his astronaut career and died in 2016.