Who I am
My name is Joseph Reiter, The Astronaut on Earth, and I am a 30yr old Mechanical Engineer; who just loves to ride his bike, run with his dog, and work on his truck and bikes.
I was in a horrible car accident in May 2023, which has completely changed my entire life.
The spinal cord injury I faced has kinda left a permanent mark on me, if you will. I have 14 fused vertebrae, 14 broken ribs, 40% of my lungs removed, and my liver and spleen got cut in with all the mess as well.
The Astronaut on Earth is my story of how I am regaining my abilities, relearning basic functions such as bathing, dressing, sleeping, and eating; all extremely similar to how an astronaut in zero gravity is tasked with relearning their entire world, one sock at a time. By being in an environment that is so incredibly different than the world I was previously occupying, I have had to learn so many new skills and techniques to survive.
You might notice this page having some updates, and that’s because as I am healing and working on myself, I am taking this opportunity to take note of it all! I apologize if it looks like a work in progress, but that is because it is!
My vision
I’m really just trying to get back to living a life, that isn’t hospital beds, komode chairs, and slide boards. I really want people to be able to see what’s good in the world, without having to get ran over to talk about it.
My commitment
I really am working everyday to get back to a level of normalcy, happiness, and ability. the journey that I have been thrown into doesn’t ask for forgiveness, second chances, or how you’re feeling today. All it asks is that you wake up the next day, give it your all, and try your best everyday. It’s been a struggle having to wake up without so much, but where I am now, it’s really turning around.
The Astronaut on Earth 