NASA Astronaut, Hometown Hero Comes to New York

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, Reisman will make an appearance at the American Museum of Natural History. He will give a presentation on his three month stay aboard the International Space Station in the Cullmen Hall of the Universe on the lower level of the Rose Center for Earth and Space from 11 p.m. to noon EDT. He will be available for autographs immediately following the presentation until 1 p.m.

Reisman was born inMorristown, New Jersey, but considersParsippany, New Jersey his hometown where he graduated from Parsippany High School. He received two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in economics and another in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. Reisman received a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1992, where he continued his post graduate studies to receive his doctorate degree in mechanical engineering in 1997.

In July 1998, Reisman was selected by NASA for the 19th group of astronaut candidates as a mission specialist. Reisman's assignments have included working on the space station robotic arm, the next generation space shuttle cockpit and living in the Aquarius underwater habitat as a crewmember of the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations program.

Reisman served with both the Expedition 16 and the Expedition 17 crews as a flight engineer aboard the station. He launched with the STS-123 crew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on March 11, 2008 and returned to Earth with the crew of STS-124 aboard the space shuttle Discovery on June 14, 2008. During his 3 month tour of duty aboard the station, Dr. Reisman performed one, 7 hour spacewalk and executed numerous tasks with the station robotic arm and the new robotic manipulator.

Reisman is one of several astronauts returning to their home regions in support of NASA's 2008 Hometown Heroes Campaign. The purpose is to spread knowledge about the importance of continuing space exploration.

This year NASA turns 50 years old. The agency is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Space Station. Seventeen crews have lived aboard the orbiting complex since 2000, including the current crew of three. Station residents have conducted important scientific experiments and gathered data to help assist future missions to the moon and Mars.

For more information about NASA visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home

SOURCE NASA

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