The Ordinary Spaceman

From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut

Clayton C. Anderson

Narrated by Aaron Killian

Available from Audible

Book published by University of Nebraska Press

What’s it like to travel at more than 850 MPH, riding in a supersonic T-38 twin turbojet engine airplane? What happens when the space station toilet breaks? How do astronauts “take out the trash” on a spacewalk, tightly encapsulated in a space suit with just a few layers of fabric and Kevlar between them and the unforgiving vacuum of outer space?

The Ordinary Spaceman puts you in the flight suit of U.S. astronaut Clayton C. Anderson and takes you on the journey of this small-town boy from Nebraska who spent 167 days living and working on the International Space Station, including more than forty hours of space walks. Having applied to NASA fifteen times over fifteen years to become an astronaut before his ultimate selection, Anderson offers a unique perspective on his life as a veteran space flier, one characterized by humility and perseverance.

From the application process to launch aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, from serving as a family escort for the ill-fated Columbia crew in 2003 to his own daily struggles—family separation, competitive battles to win coveted flight assignments, the stress of a highly visible job, and the ever-present risk of having to make the ultimate sacrifice—Anderson shares the full range of his experiences. With a mix of levity and gravitas, Anderson gives an authentic view of the highs and the lows, the triumphs and the tragedies of life as a NASA astronaut.

Clayton C. Anderson retired in 2013 after a thirty-year career with NASA and two missions to the International Space Station.

REVIEWS:

“Anderson provides a focused picture of how a fiercely dedicated individual became a spaceman.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Clayton Anderson is no ordinary astronaut, and this is no ordinary book. It is an uncompromisingly honest rendering of a challenging and fulfilling life by someone with a singular dream and the moxie to pursue it to success.”

—Lincoln Journal Star

“Anderson's down to Earth account of the astronaut's life may help more of us to connect with the profession's forward looking significance—a welcome addition to the outreach successes of Hollywood's Box Office and NASA's social media salvos.”

—Aviation Week Network

“He may have been an ordinary spaceman, but The Ordinary Spaceman demonstrates he is certainly not ordinary.”

—Space Review

“Learn about the excitement, the awe, the thrills, the suspense, and the experiences unique to the astronauts in the shuttle program. Clay blends his personal stories with his professional challenges. I am especially impressed with his persistence in applying for the astronaut program: Clay’s experience will be motivation for anyone to never give up!”

—Eileen Collins, retired NASA astronaut and USAF colonel and the first female pilot and commander of a space shuttle

“Clay has truly had an exciting life full of adventure and challenges. He tackles each moment in life with ambition and optimism. His life stories can inspire each of us to reach further, dig deeper, and fly higher. From his days growing up in Nebraska and his family life to his time on the International Space Station, Clay proves that life is what you make of it.”

—Curt Tomasevicz, Olympic gold medalist and fellow Nebraskan