When most astronauts go into space, they bring something special from home.
Garrett Reisman, a 1991 Wharton and Engineering alumnus, is bringing an M&T; emblem and a piece of ENIAC, the very first computer, which was developed at Penn.
Reisman will travel to the International Space Station for two months this March.
Reisman admits that he did not anticipate ever spending time in space when he was young.
"As a kid, I never said that I wanted to be an astronaut," he confessed.
It was only in his fifth year at Penn, after purchasing a book about astronauts, that he was struck by the possibility of being one himself,
And he hasn't let up since.
After receiving his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, Reisman was selected as a Mission Specialist by NASA in 1998.
Today, he is certainly not reserved about the passion he has for his work, waxing poetic about his journey.
Going into space "is the first courtship, everything is still new, and the [space] station is the marriage," he said. "You have the good and the bad."
His space escapades have garnered him respect, Reisman said, recollecting the ovation he received when he was honored at a Yankees game.
He was originally supposed to spend over seven months in space, but due to a rescheduling by NASA, his trip was cut short - he will depart in March and return by May.
"It's easy getting excited, and when the plan changes it can be frustrating," he admitted.
But Reisman said what's more important than the quantity of time is the quality of the experience.
The astronaut says he hopes to spend time at the space station with NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Yuri Malenchenko.
Whatever is in store for him, Reisman said that he's "still lucky to have this opportunity."
