Launched aboard Shuttle Atlantis in 2007, Clayton Anderson served 152 days on the International Space Station as a member of the Expedition 15 and 16 crews. Before his eventual selection as an astronaut in 1998, he spent over a decade at NASA Johnson Space Center working in trajectory design and emergency operations management.
Academic and Professional Foundations
Born in Omaha in 1959, Anderson attended Ashland-Greenwood High School before earning a physics degree from Hastings College in 1981. He continued his studies at Iowa State University, completing a Master of Science in aerospace engineering in 1983. His professional tenure with NASA began that same year within the Mission Planning and Analysis Division, where he focused on rendezvous operations for Space Shuttle missions.
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Prior to spaceflight, Anderson held several technical leadership positions, including Chief of the Flight Design Branch. In 2003, he participated in the NEEMO 5 mission, acting as an aquanaut in the Aquarius underwater laboratory for two weeks. This experience included an underwater spacewalk where he sustained a hand injury that required professional medical intervention during the mission.
International Space Station Expeditions
Anderson traveled to the ISS on mission STS-117, replacing Sunita Williams to join Expedition 15. During his time on the station, he engaged in daily trivia exchanges with mission control, a tradition established by previous astronauts. He returned to Earth in November 2007 aboard Discovery during STS-120. In 2010, he returned to space as a mission specialist on STS-131, which delivered essential supplies to the station.
Post-NASA Career
After retiring from NASA in January 2013, Anderson transitioned into academic and administrative roles. He served as a Professor of Practice at Iowa State University and authored several books, including Letters from Space and So You Want to be an Astronaut. Between 2022 and 2025, he acted as president and CEO of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Omaha, Nebraska
- Education: Hastings College (BS), Iowa State University (MS)
- NASA Selection: June 1998
- Space Missions: STS-117, STS-120, STS-131
- Total Time in Space: 152 days
- Amateur Radio Call Sign: KD5PLA
- Award: Medal For Merit in Space Exploration
- Retirement from NASA: January 2013
Questions readers ask
Was Clayton Anderson the first astronaut from Nebraska?
Yes, he is reported as the first and only astronaut from Nebraska.
What did Anderson do after leaving NASA?
He became an author, a motivational speaker, a university professor, and served as the CEO of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Iowa State University and Hastings College
- Worked as military flight engineer, astronaut and engineer
