Editing Michael P. Anderson

{{short description|American astronaut and scientist (1959–2003)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Michael Anderson
|image         = Michael P. Anderson.jpg
|caption       = 1995 portrait
|birth_name    = Michael Phillip Anderson
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1959|12|25}}
|birth_place   = [[Plattsburgh, New York]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2003|2|1|1959|12|25}}
|death_place   = Over [[Texas]], U.S.
|death_cause   = [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]
|education     = {{ubl|[[University of Washington]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])|[[Creighton University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])}}
|awards        = [[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|time          = 24d 18h 8m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 15|NASA Group 15 (1994)]]
|mission       = [[STS-89]]<br>[[STS-107]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-89-patch.svg|40px]] [[File:STS-107 Flight Insignia.svg|40px]]
}}
'''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|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster]] when the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|craft]] [[In-flight breakup|disintegrated]] during its [[reentry (orbital)|re-entry]] into the [[Earth's atmosphere]].<ref name=":4" /> 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<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> and was transferred to [[Fairchild Air Force Base]], about {{convert|12|miles|km|}} away from [[Spokane, Washington]], which Anderson spoke of as his hometown.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref> Anderson graduated from [[Cheney School District|Cheney High School]] in [[Cheney, Washington]],<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> one of four [[African Americans]] in a class of 200 students.<ref name=":0" />

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, Nebraska|Omaha]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Air Force career==
Upon Anderson's graduation from the University of Washington, he was commissioned a [[Second Lieutenant|second lieutenant]] in the [[U.S. Air Force]].<ref name=":0" /> After completing a year of technical training at [[Keesler Air Force Base]] in [[Mississippi]], Anderson was assigned to [[Randolph Air Force Base]] in [[Texas]].<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

In 1986, Anderson was selected to attend [[Undergraduate Pilot Training]] at [[Vance Air Force Base]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=":0" /> Upon graduation, he was assigned to the [[2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron]], [[Offutt Air Force Base]], [[Nebraska]] as an [[Boeing EC-135|EC-135]] pilot, flying the [[Strategic Air Command]]'s airborne command post code-named "[[Operation Looking Glass|Looking Glass]]." Anderson completed his master's degree while stationed at Offutt.<ref name=":0" />

From January 1991 to September 1992, Anderson served as an aircraft commander and [[Flight instructor|instructor pilot]] in the [[920th Air Refueling Squadron]], [[Wurtsmith Air Force Base]], [[Michigan]].<ref name=":0" />

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 (state)|New York]].<ref name=":0" />

Anderson logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time when NASA selected him for astronaut training in December 1994.<ref name=":0" /> Anderson was one of 19 candidates selected from a pool of 2,962 applicants.<ref name=":0" />

=== Special honors ===
Source:<ref name=":1" />
*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|thumb|Anderson in 1995]]
Anderson reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in March 1995.<ref name=":0" /> He completed a year of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight crew assignment as a [[Mission Specialist|mission specialist]].<ref name=":0" /> Anderson was initially assigned technical duties in the Flight Support Branch of the [[NASA Astronaut Corps|Astronaut Office]], but went on to log more than 593 hours in space aboard two Space Shuttle missions.<ref name=":0" />

===Space Shuttle missions===

==== ''Endeavour'' ====
{{Main|Space Shuttle Endeavour}}
[[STS-89]] ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' (January 22–31, 1998). Anderson was a mission specialist on STS-89, the eighth Shuttle-to-[[Mir]] [[Space station|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 (astronaut)|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]].<ref name=":1" />

==== ''Columbia'' ====
[[File:Anderson on STS-107.jpg|thumb|Anderson during the STS-107 mission|left]]
{{Main|Space Shuttle Columbia disaster}}
[[STS-107]] [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] (January 16–February 1, 2003). Anderson served as [[Payload Specialist|payload commander]] and lieutenant colonel in charge of science experiments on the ''Columbia'', NASA's oldest shuttle.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref> During re-entry, the hole allowed super-hot [[Atmosphere of Earth|atmospheric gases]] to penetrate the orbiter's wing, leading to its destruction.<ref name=":2" /> 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|''Columbia'' Accident Investigation Board]] reported<ref>{{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}}</ref> that, in addition to the ''Columbia''{{'}}s physical damage, NASA's management culture was partly responsible for the disaster.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Quotes==
Prior to the final launch of the ''Columbia'', Anderson told reporters: "There's always that unknown."<ref name=":4">{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Anderson had a wife, Sandra Hawkins, and two daughters, Kaycee and Sydney. He also had three sisters.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Anderson and his family lived in [[Houston]] at the time of his death, where they attended Grace Community Church.<ref name=":3">{{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}}</ref> Anderson sang tenor in the church's choir.<ref name=":3" />

==Awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan=4|[[File:USAF Master Astronaut badge.jpg|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|[[Astronaut Badge|Air Force Command Pilot Astronaut badge]]
|-
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] <sup>†</sup>
|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|[[Air Force Achievement Medal]] with [[oak leaf cluster|cluster]] 
|-
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]] <sup>†</sup>
|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]] <sup>†</sup>
|[[NASA Space Flight Medal]] <sup>†</sup>
|-
|colspan=4|<small>The <sup>†</sup> symbol indicates a posthumous award.</small>
|}

==Legacy and tributes==
[[Image:MPAndersonMemHwySign.jpg|thumb|180px|right| Sign along [[Washington State Route 904]], commemorating<br>Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson.]]
*[[Washington State Route 904|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* Avondale Elementary School in [[Avondale, Arizona]] was renamed Michael Anderson Elementary in his honor.  He attended school there when he was in 3rd 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.<ref>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.</ref>
* Anderson Park in [[Canton, Mississippi]] was dedicated in June 2004.
* An outdoor bronze statue of Anderson was unveiled in [[Spokane, Washington|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
* A duplicate statue was dedicated at the [[Museum of Flight]] in [[Seattle]] in June 2009<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the museum launched an aerospace program in his honor.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* An outdoor mural in the city of Plattsburgh was unveiled in October 2020 honoring Michael P. 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 him.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* The Creighton University Physics Department, from which Anderson received his master's degree, maintains a statue and physics scholarship in his honor.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of African-American astronauts]]
*[[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster]]
*[[Space science]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{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]

{{STS-107}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 15}}
{{Congressional Space Medal of Honor}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Michael P.}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Texas]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American United States Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:Aviators from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Creighton University alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Spokane, Washington]]
[[Category:Mir crew members]]
[[Category:People from Cheney, Washington]]
[[Category:People from Plattsburgh, New York]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Air Force colonels]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni]]