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, and demonstrated in the large – and at the time empty – Kibo section that humans cannot "swim" in the microgravity of orbital space.[12]
STS-132
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
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
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]
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 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.
^"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.
