Photo: NASA / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Thomas Reiter, born on May 23, 1958 in Frankfurt, Darmstadt Government Region, Germany, is an astronaut, engineer and aircraft pilot. As of 2026, Thomas Reiter is 68 years old. Education on record includes University of the Bundeswehr Munich. Recorded honors include Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2007), Hessian Order of Merit (1996), Medal for outstanding service to Bavaria in a united Europe (2008) and 5 more.
My Take
Thomas Reiter is the sort of CV that humbles you: astronaut, engineer, test pilot, and a Brigadier General in the German Air Force, ranked among the top 25 humans by total time in space. What strikes me most is the breadth of trust placed in him, honoured by Germany's highest orders and Russia's Order of Friendship alike, a man whose career literally bridged Cold War divides through science. Even now, working as a coordinator and advisor at the ESA, he keeps quietly serving humanity's reach into orbit. That blend of precision, courage and lifelong dedication is exactly the kind of greatness I find most worth celebrating.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Thomas Reiter
- Name (Japanese)
- トーマス・ライター
- Reading
- とーます・らいたー
- Born
- May 23, 1958 (age 68)
- Origin
- Frankfurt, Darmstadt Government Region, Germany
- Occupation
- astronaut / engineer / aircraft pilot / test pilot / military personnel
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dog
2. Background
- University
- University of the Bundeswehr Munich
Awards & achievements
- 2007 Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 1996 Hessian Order of Merit
- 2008 Medal for outstanding service to Bavaria in a united Europe
- 1996 Order of Friendship
- 2011 Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"
- Lower Saxony Honorary Medal
- 2016 Aachener Ingenieurpreis
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Thomas Reiter born?
Thomas Reiter was born on May 23, 1958 and is 68 years old.
Where is Thomas Reiter from?
Thomas Reiter is from Frankfurt, Darmstadt Government Region, Germany.
What does Thomas Reiter do?
Thomas Reiter works as astronaut, engineer, aircraft pilot, test pilot, military personnel.
Where did Thomas Reiter study?
Thomas Reiter attended University of the Bundeswehr Munich.
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