Michael Phillip Anderson (December 25, 1959 – February 1, 2003) was a United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut. He and his six fellow crew members were killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the craft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Anderson served as the payload commander and lieutenant colonel in charge of science experiments on the Columbia. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Early life and education

Michael Philip Anderson was born in Plattsburgh, New York on December 25, 1959, to Barbara and Bobbie Anderson. He was their third child and only son. Bobbie serviced jets at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in Plattsburgh{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QF9grMa_84YC&q=michael+phillip+anderson+astronaut+father&pg=PA10|title=African Americans in the Military|last=Reef|first=Catherine|date=2014-05-14|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9781438107752|language=en}} and was transferred to Fairchild Air Force Base, about {{convert|12|miles|km|}} away from Spokane, Washington, which Anderson spoke of as his hometown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/anderson.html|title=Astronaut Bio: Michael P. Anderson 5/04|website=www.jsc.nasa.gov|date=11 February 2015 |access-date=2016-12-11}} Anderson graduated from Cheney High School in Cheney, Washington,{{Cite web |date=2018-02-01 |title=15 years after Columbia space shuttle disaster, remembering Spokane’s own Michael Phillip Anderson |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/feb/01/15-years-after-columbia-space-shuttle-disaster-rem/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-01 |title=15 years after Columbia space shuttle disaster, remembering Spokane’s own Michael Phillip Anderson |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/feb/01/15-years-after-columbia-space-shuttle-disaster-rem/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}} one of four African Americans in a class of 200 students.

In 1981, Anderson graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1990, he earned a Master of Science degree in physics from Creighton University in Omaha.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bio-shuttle-columbia-payload-commander-lt-col-michael-anderson|title=Bio: Shuttle Columbia Payload Commander Lt. Col. Michael Anderson|date=2003-02-01|newspaper=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-14}}

Air Force career

Upon Anderson's graduation from the University of Washington, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. After completing a year of technical training at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, Anderson was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. At Randolph, he served as chief of communication maintenance for the 2015th Communication Squadron and later as director of information system maintenance for the 1920th Information System Group.

In 1986, Anderson was selected to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska as an EC-135 pilot, flying the Strategic Air Command's airborne command post code-named "Looking Glass." Anderson completed his master's degree while stationed at Offutt.

From January 1991 to September 1992, Anderson served as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the 920th Air Refueling Squadron, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan.

From September 1992 to February 1995, Anderson was assigned as an instructor pilot and tactics officer in the 380th Air Refueling Wing, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.

Anderson logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time when NASA selected him for astronaut training in December 1994. Anderson was one of 19 candidates selected from a pool of 2,962 applicants.

= Special honors =

Source:

Distinguished graduate, USAF Communication Electronics Officers course
The Armed Forces Communication Electronics Associations Academic Excellence Award
Undergraduate Pilot Training Academic Achievement Award for Class 87-08 Vance AFB

NASA

File:Michael P. Anderson, official portrait.jpg

Anderson reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight crew assignment as a mission specialist. Anderson was initially assigned technical duties in the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office, but went on to log more than 593 hours in space aboard two Space Shuttle missions.

=Space Shuttle missions=

== ''Endeavour'' ==

STS-89 Endeavour (January 22–31, 1998). Anderson was a mission specialist on STS-89, the eighth Shuttle-to-Mir Space Station docking mission, during which the crew delivered over 9,000 pounds of scientific equipment, logistical hardware, and water.

In the fifth and last exchange of a U.S. astronaut, STS-89 delivered Andy Thomas to Mir and returned with David Wolf. The mission's duration was 8 days, 19 hours, and 47 seconds, traveling 3.6 million miles in 138 orbits of the Earth.

== ''Columbia'' ==

File:Anderson on STS-107.jpg

STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia (January 16–February 1, 2003). Anderson served as payload commander and lieutenant colonel in charge of science experiments on the Columbia, NASA's oldest shuttle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/02/01/shuttle.columbia.history/|title=CNN.com - NASA weighed retiring Columbia in 2001 - Feb. 2, 2003|first=Richard |last=Stenger|website=www.cnn.com|access-date=2016-12-14}} On February 1, 2003, the shuttle was returning to Earth after a successful 16-day trip to orbit, where the crew had conducted more than 80 scientific experiments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/02/sts-107-remembering-columbia-crew/|title=STS-107: Remembering the accomplishments of the Columbia crew {{!}} NASASpaceFlight.com|website=www.nasaspaceflight.com|date=February 2013 |access-date=2016-12-14}}

Unbeknownst to her crew, the orbiter had suffered critical damage during its launch on January 16, when foam from the fuel tank's insulation fell off and tore a hole in Columbia's left wing.{{Cite news|url=http://www.space.com/19526-columbia-shuttle-disaster-explained-infographic.html|title=Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster Explained (Infographic)|newspaper=Space.com|access-date=2016-12-14}} During re-entry, the hole allowed super-hot atmospheric gases to penetrate the orbiter's wing, leading to its destruction. The mission's duration was 15 days, 22 hours, and 20 minutes.

Along with the rest of the STS-107 crew, Anderson was killed upon reentry when the shuttle disintegrated over Texas.

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board reported{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/columbia/home/CAIB_Vol1.html|title=NASA - Report of Columbia Accident Investigation Board, Volume I|website=www.nasa.gov|language=en|access-date=2016-12-14}} that, in addition to the Columbia{{'}}s physical damage, NASA's management culture was partly responsible for the disaster.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4089-nasa-culture-key-to-columbia-shuttle-disaster/|title=NASA culture key to Columbia shuttle disaster|newspaper=New Scientist|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-14}}

Quotes

Prior to the final launch of the Columbia, Anderson told reporters: "There's always that unknown."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/02/us/loss-shuttle-astronauts-columbia-space-shuttle-s-crew-6-americans-1-israeli-146455.html|title=LOSS OF THE SHUTTLE: THE ASTRONAUTS; The Columbia Space Shuttle's Crew of 6 Americans and 1 Israeli|last=Egan|first=Timothy|date=2003-02-02|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-12-14}}

Personal life

Anderson had a wife, Sandra Hawkins, and two daughters, Kaycee and Sydney. He also had three sisters.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Anderson-remembered-as-eager-learner-in-love-1106584.php|title=Anderson remembered as eager learner, in love with flight|newspaper=seattlepi.com|access-date=2016-12-14}}

Anderson and his family lived in Houston at the time of his death, where they attended Grace Community Church.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030209/anderson09m/michael-anderson-from-humble-roots-to-one-of-americas-humble-heroes|title=Local News {{!}} Michael Anderson: From humble roots to one of America's 'humble heroes'|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=2016-12-14}} Anderson sang tenor in the church's choir.

Awards

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|colspan=4|200px

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Achievement Medal USAF.svg|width=103}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Congressional Space Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=103}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=103}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

colspan=4|Air Force Command Pilot Astronaut badge

Defense Distinguished Service Medal ^†

|Defense Superior Service Medal

|Meritorious Service Medal

|Air Force Achievement Medal with cluster

National Defense Service Medal

|Congressional Space Medal of Honor ^†

|NASA Distinguished Service Medal ^†

|NASA Space Flight Medal ^†

colspan=4|The ^† symbol indicates a posthumous award.

Legacy and tributes

Image:MPAndersonMemHwySign.jpg, commemorating
Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson.]]

State Route 904, running through Cheney, Washington, where Anderson graduated from high school, was renamed in his memory.
The science and math wing of Cheney High School is dedicated to his memory.
Asteroid 51824 Mikeanderson was posthumously named after Anderson.
Anderson Hall, in the Columbia Village apartments at the Florida Institute of Technology is named after him.
Anderson Plaza, the green space in front of the Hixson-Lied Science Center at Creighton University was named after him in a compromise between the student body, who wanted the Science Center named for Anderson, and the administration who had already sold the naming rights to the Hixson-Lied family.
Blair Elementary School on Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington was renamed Michael Anderson Elementary School in January 2004. Anderson attended the school as a fifth-grader.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q9wnAAAAIBAJ&pg=6511,2772358|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|last=Kromer|first=Kristen|title=New school honors Cheney astronaut|date=October 3, 2003|page=B2}}
Avondale Elementary School in Avondale, Arizona was renamed Michael Anderson Elementary in his honor. Anderson attended school there when he was in the third grade, and one of the school T-shirts was aboard the Columbia on its last voyage.
In 2003, Anderson was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship, in Atchison, KS as part of a memorial to the Columbia astronauts.The International Forest of Friendship(http://www.ifof.org) is a living, growing memorial to the world history of aviation and aerospace in Amelia Earhart's hometown.
Anderson Park in Canton, Mississippi was dedicated in June 2004.
An outdoor bronze statue of Anderson was unveiled in Spokane in June 2005. Larger-than-life, it was created by local artist Dorothy Fowler, and shows Anderson kneeling with his helmet in one hand and a dove in the other.{{cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/11/michael-p-anderson-statue-to-be-dedicated-in/|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|last=Kraus|first=Hilary|title=Michael P. Anderson statue to be dedicated in public ceremony|date=June 11, 2005}}{{cite web|url=http://michaelandersonmemorialstatue.org/default.aspx|publisher=Michael Anderson Memorial Statue|title=Photo|access-date=October 3, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102190947/http://michaelandersonmemorialstatue.org/default.aspx|archive-date=November 2, 2013}}
A duplicate statue was dedicated at the Museum of Flight in Seattle in June 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/press/museum-flight-statue-honors-washington-state-astronaut-michael-p-anderson|publisher=Museum of Flight|title=Museum of Flight statue honors Washington state astronaut Michael P. Anderson|date=June 26, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2012}} and the museum launched an aerospace program in his honor.{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/programs/michael-p-anderson-memorial-aerospace-program|publisher=Museum of Flight|title=Michael P. Anderson Memorial Aerospace Program|access-date=October 3, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716074333/http://www.museumofflight.org/programs/michael-p-anderson-memorial-aerospace-program|archive-date=July 16, 2012}}
An outdoor mural in the city of Plattsburgh was unveiled in October 2020 honoring Anderson. On July 4, 2021, the city of Plattsburgh held a dedication for the mural, where the Anderson family was given a key to the city and led the annual Independence Day parade.
Lunar crater M. Anderson is named after Anderson.{{cite web | title=Lunar crater M. Anderson | url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14137?__fsk=-1412240727 | website = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | publisher = IAU | access-date=16 June 2021}}
The Creighton University Physics Department, from which Anderson received his master's degree, maintains a statue and physics scholarship in his honor.{{cite web | title=Undergraduate Scholarships | url=https://physics.creighton.edu/content/students/undergraduate-student-manual/undergraduate-scholarships | website = Creighton University Physics | publisher = [Creighton University] | access-date=17 November 2021}}{{cite web | title=Creighton University Honors Columbia Astronaut With Statue Unveiling | url=https://www.diverseeducation.com/home/article/15080091/creighton-university-honors-columbia-astronaut-with-statue-unveiling | website = Diverse Education | date=30 June 2004 | publisher = [Diverse Education] | access-date=17 November 2021}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|4120451}}
{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Biographies/Crew%20Profile%20Information/Crew%20Biographies/anderson_biodata.htm|title=MICHAEL P. ANDERSON (LIEUTENANT COLONEL, USAF)|work=NASA|date=February 2003|access-date=2019-05-07}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20041106134523/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-107/memorial/anderson.html Michael Anderson STS-107 Crew Memorial]
[http://www.floridatoday.com/columbia/columbiastory2N1029TECH.htm Florida Today - Florida Tech dedicates dorms to Columbia 7 - October 29, 2003]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20030424225251/http://www.iit.edu/~iitnsf/depastro.html The Chicago Alliance for Minority Participation Keynote Address by Major Michael P. Anderson]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120716074333/http://www.museumofflight.org/programs/michael-p-anderson-memorial-aerospace-program Museum of Flight: Michael P. Anderson Memorial Aerospace Program]
[http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5160 HistoryLink.org: Michael P. Anderson]