ESA Astronaut Biography: Hans Schlegel

NAME: Hans Schlegel
European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut (Germany)

PERSONAL DATA: Born August 3, 1951 in ?berlingen, Germany, but considers Aachen to be his hometown. He has seven children. Married to Heike Schlegel-Walpot. Recreational interests include skiing, scuba diving and flying. He also enjoys reading, and being a handyman.

EDUCATION:

1957-70: Attended schools in Refrath, Bensberg and Cologne, Germany.

1968-69: American Field Service (AFS) exchange student. Graduated from Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

1970: Graduated from Hansa Gymnasium (secondary school emphasizing mathematics & science), Cologne, Germany.

1972-79: Studied at the University of Aachen, Germany, graduated with a Diploma in Physics.

ORGANIZATIONS: Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physical Society); AFS - Interkulturelle Begegnungen (American Field Service Germany).

PUBLICATIONS: Publications and scientific reports in the field of semiconductor physics.

HONORS: Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Service Cross 1 st Class, Federal Republic of Germany). Medal of Friendship of Russia. NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.

EXPERIENCE:

1970-72: Served as a paratrooper with the Federal Armed Forces. Left with the rank of second lieutenant.

1979-86: Member of the academic staff at Rheinisch Westf?lische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen (University of Aachen) as an experimental Solid State Physicist. Research in the field of electronic transport properties and optical properties of semiconductors.

1986-88: Specialist in non-destructive testing methodology in the research and development department of the company "Institut Dr. F?rster Gmbh & Co. KG" in Reutlingen, Germany.

1988-90: Basic Astronaut Training at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). In addition to academic education he gained microgravity experience by conducting various experiments during approximately 1300 parabolas on the KC-135. He also became a certified research diver and holds a private pilot?s license, covering instrument rating and aerobatics.

1990: Assigned as payload specialist for the D-2 Mission (second German Spacelab mission).

1990-93: Payload Training in Cologne, Germany and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

1995-97: Cosmonaut Training for the German-Russian Mir-?97 Mission at Yuri A. Gagarin Training Centre (Moscow). During the mission (February 10 to March 2, 1997) served as Crew Interface Coordinator.

1997-98: Additional training and certification as 2nd board engineer for Mir at Yuri A. Gagarin Training Centre.

1998: Integrated into ESA?s single European astronaut corps, which is involved in the assembly and on-board operations of the International Space Station.

1998: ESA sent him to NASA JSC in Houston for Mission Specialist Training (Astronaut Class of 1998).

1999-02: Worked in the ISS Branch on mechanisms & structures, on crew equipment and on the ISS systems.

2002-04: Worked in the Robotics Branch and as ISS CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator).

2004-05: Lead ISS CAPCOM for Increment 10.

Currently: Assigned by ESA in May 2005 as ESA Lead Astronaut at JSC. Since September 2005 has worked as Shuttle CAPCOM, as ISS Instructor CAPCOM, and in the ISS Branch as lead for systems and crew interfaces, heading up a team of 12.

Schlegel is assigned to the STS-122 mission that will deliver the European Space Agency?s Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station.

Last Updated: February 2007

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