Graduated with a diploma in experimental physics from University of Cologne, 1980; Ph.D. in physics from the University of Cologne, 1985; from 61 European candidates for the ESA 1991 selection one of five German candidates, but not selected then; since 1994 head of "Deutsches Satellitenbildarchiv"; since March 2003 professor for aerospace technology at the University Munich; hobbies: Badminton, basketball, soccer, pop music, classical music, electronics.