posted 04-05-2016 03:25 PM               

German Astronaut Thomas Reiter to be Inducted

International Space Hall of Fame Ceremony Planned for April 16

German Astronaut Thomas Reiter (Brigadier General, Ret., GAF) will be inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 16, 2016. The ceremony will be held at The Elks Lodge in Alamogordo beginning at 11:30 am, and includes a luncheon. Tickets are $25 per person and are on sale at the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Marketing Department.

Reiter, who will be in attendance for the Induction Ceremony, was chosen for induction because of his ongoing commitment to space exploration, his dedication to promoting the future of space exploration, and his personal achievements as an astronaut, pilot, and explorer.

Thomas Reiter is a retired Brigadier General with the German Air Force. As a GAF pilot, Reiter flew more than 15 types of military combat jet aircraft, including the Tornado, and logged over 2000 hours of flight time. He was also involved in the European Space Agency's studies of the Hermes manned space vehicle and equipment development for one of Europe's main contributions to the International Space Station, the Columbus module.

Reiter was selected to join ESA's Astronaut Corps in 1992 and, after completing his training, was chosen to participate in the Euromir 95 mission to the Russian space station Mir. Assigned as on-board engineer for the mission, Reiter performed some 40 scientific experiments and performed two spacewalks (EVAs). It was a record-breaking 179 day mission to Mir.

Next, Reiter participated in ESA's first long-duration mission to the International Space Station – the Astrolab Mission which took place from July 4 to December 22, 2006. Designated as Flight Engineer, he also conducted 19 experiments while on board the ISS and participated in a 5 hour and 54 minute spacewalk. He returned to earth after 171 days in space.

The two long-duration missions that Reiter participated in gave him the distinction of being the only astronaut, other than an American or Russian, with 350 days in space.

Reiter is currently the Director of ESA's Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations. He is responsible for managing European contributions to the ISS, overseeing human spaceflight activities for the Agency, the Space Situational Awareness Programs and operations of ESA satellite missions, along with coordinating the evolution of ESA's international partners in the ISS program.

The ceremony to induct Thomas Reiter into the International Space Hall of Fame will be held Saturday, April 16, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at The Elks Lodge, 2290 Hamilton Road, Alamogordo, NM. Immediately following the Induction Luncheon, a reception will be held at the German Community Center at 1451 Galway Drive. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Thomas Reiter.

Tickets for the luncheon are $25 each. Tickets for the reception are also $25 each and are limited to a total of 50. Tickets for both events are now on sale on the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Marketing Department, call 575-437-2840 ext. 41153 or email.