Born 1958 in Frankfurt am Main. T. Reiter graduated with a master-degree in aerospace-engineering from the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich. As a military pilot in the Luftwaffe he logged more than 2400 flying hours and completed test pilot training in 1992. In the same year he was appointed to the ESA Astronaut Corps. His first mission to the Russian spacestation Mir started in September 1995 and lasted 179 days. His second mission to the international spacestation ISS begun in July 2006, lasting 171 days. During his two spaceflights he conducted more than 70 scientific experiments and 3 spacewalks. After his active career as an astronaut, in 2007 he joined the executive board of DLR, being responsible for space research and development. From April 2011 until December 2015 he was ESA Director for Human Spaceflight and Mission Operations. From 2016 until his retirement in May 2021, T. Reiter supported the esa-Director General as Advisor and Coordinator International Agencies. He retired from the Luftwaffe as Brigadier General.