Clayton Anderson: Heartland Astronaut June 14, 2010

The Heartland Astronaut exhibit highlights the rise of Clayton Anderson, an Ashland, NE native, who used his determination and passion for science and space to propel him through the NASA astronaut training program. When his number was called, Clayton traveled aboard Shuttle Mission STS-117 to the International Space Station in the summer of 2007. Clayton has been assigned to the Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission STS-131, targeted for launch February, 2010. The STS-131 mission will deliver research and science experiment equipment and a new sleeping area. This exhibit outlines his early life in Nebraska, as well as the intense training undertaken prior to his launch. Artifacts include flight suits, a flown shuttle tire, and cameras used by Gemini astronaut, Wally Schirra.