Clayton Anderson

Clayton Anderson (born February 23, 1959) is an American engineer and NASA astronaut. Born in Ashland, Nebraska, Anderson has contributed significantly to human spaceflight, with a career spanning over three decades at NASA. He is best known for his long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where he spent 152 days in space.

Early Life and Education

Anderson was born in Ashland, Nebraska. He attended Ashland-Greenwood High School, graduating in 1977. He then pursued his undergraduate studies at Hastings College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Physics in 1981. Anderson later obtained a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in 1983.

Career at NASA

Anderson began his career at NASA in 1983 in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division, where he performed rendezvous and proximity operations trajectory designs for early Space Shuttle missions. He later served in the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) as a Flight Design Manager, leading the trajectory design team for the Galileo planetary mission while the Shuttle was docked to the Space Station.

In 1998, Anderson was selected as a mission specialist by NASA and began astronaut candidate training. He has since been involved in various missions, including STS-117 and Expedition 15, where he replaced Sunita Williams on June 10, 2007, on the ISS.

Spaceflight Experience

Anderson's first spaceflight was on STS-117, which launched on June 8, 2007. During this mission, he replaced astronaut Sunita Williams as a member of the Expedition 15 crew on the ISS. He spent 152 days aboard the ISS, performing three spacewalks during his stay.

His second spaceflight was on STS-131, which launched on April 5, 2010. During this mission, Anderson and his crewmates delivered more than 27,000 pounds of hardware, supplies, and equipment to the ISS. This included a tank full of ammonia coolant, new crew sleeping quarters, and three experiment racks.

Personal Life

Anderson is married and has two children. He is an active member of his community and often speaks at schools and community events about his experiences as an astronaut.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Anderson has received numerous awards and honors. These include the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the NASA Space Flight Medal, and the Sokol Rescue Award.

See Also

• List of astronauts by year of selection
• List of International Space Station expeditions
• List of human spaceflights