NASA astronaut Clayton Conrad Anderson was born on February 23, 1959, and is now retired. On June 10, 2007, he took Sunita Williams’ spot on the Expedition 15 crew by launching aboard STS-117. He currently works as a practice professor, author, and motivational speaker at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He takes on the roles of president and CEO of the Air and Space Museum and Strategic Air Command in 2022.
Anderson obtained his high school diploma from Ashland-Greenwood High School in Ashland, Nebraska, his bachelor’s degree in science (cum laude) in physics from Hastings College in Nebraska in 1981, and his master’s degree in science in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University in 1983.
He was chosen by NASA as an astronaut candidate in June 1998, and in August of the same year, he reported for training. In-depth scientific and technical briefings, orientation briefings, physiological training, ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, and instruction in aquatic and wilderness survival techniques are all included in the training. It also includes intensive instruction on the Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) systems.
Anderson oversaw the creation of the Enhanced Warning and Warning (ECW) system as part of the Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrade (CAU) project before being given a spaceflight assignment. On Expedition 4 of the International Space Station, he served as a crew support astronaut, providing ground assistance for crew families and technical concerns. Anderson also works as the Astronaut Office Crew Representative for the Space Station Power Systems and CAPCOM, the international space station’s capsule communicator. Anderson completed the extravehicular activity (EVA) skills course in November 2002 and received his diploma. For missions to the International Space Station 12, 13, and 14, he served as the backup flight engineer.