 Parent Spotlight:
Susan Jane Anderson
by Sharon Bargas
Imagine experiencing the dramatic sound and lighting effects, rumbling floors and fog dramatize the
moments before launch. The sights, sounds, G-forces and rattle of lift-off as the ground begins to
tremble and your chest vibrates from the clapping like sound produced by the solid rocket boosters.
Although most people will never have this opportunity, you can just imagine the feelings that are felt
as the shuttle launches into orbit. Fear, anxiety and excitement, are emotions that come to mind.
Now, just imagine sitting near the launch pad and watching your spouse take that trip. Those same emotions
probably come into play at launch, during the mission and during touch down. Susan Jane Anderson, wife of
Clayton C. Anderson, understands all to well what that feels like since her husband went on his first mission
in June of 2007.
“Honestly, I’ve never been scared for his safety,” says Susan. “He has worked so hard and trained for
so many years that I couldn’t imagine him doing anything else.”
Nebraska’s first astronaut, Clayton Anderson of Ashland, arrived safely back on Earth after a five month
stint aboard the International Space Station.
Clayton Anderson was born in Omaha in 1959. He graduated from Ashland-Greenwood High School and then
attended Hastings College to study Physics. He later earned a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa
State University in 1983.
He started at NASA that same year, eventually becoming Manager of the Emergency Operations Center in 1996.
Two years later, he was selected as a mission specialist. After intensive training and serving NASA in various
ground support roles, he was ready for his first launch.
“I have to say, it was just awesome to watch the launch,” says Susan. “A bit scary, but awesome.”
Susan says that when her nerves became rattled, she looked towards her close knit family and her church
for constant support. She recalls the day he touched down was the couple’s 15th anniversary.
“It was fantastic to have him back on such a great day,” she said.
She noted that the couple celebrated their anniversary with a special bottle of wine and a fantastic
grilled steak dinner. Susan laughed, “When Clayton isn’t home, the grill doesn’t get used.”
A family affair
A well-respected NASA employee, Susan has been working as an Education Specialist for almost 13 years.
As part of her job, she works on events and exhibits for museums, astronaut appearances and on behalf of teachers.
“Working for NASA is so inspiring. I couldn’t imagine working for anyone else.”
It was very fitting that she would meet the love of her life while at work. She recalls the
first time she met Clayton. “He followed me through the lunch line in the cafeteria one day and
the rest is history,” says Susan.
Family Life
The Anderson’s have two children – a six-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old-son. According to Anderson,
her children are extremely proud of their father. Since returning from his mission, the kids feel like
celebrities – especially in Anderson’s home town.
“It’s so funny when we return to Omaha and Hastings because people are familiar with who Clayton
is and like to speak with him,” says Susan. The Anderson’s plan to come back to the Midwest during the
holidays for several personal appearances and also to spend time with family.
Susan said that before Clayton went on his mission, the couple kept a constant line of communication
open with their children. They even took their children to another shuttle launch before his mission so
that they could experience it first hand.
“Any fear and anxiety they had was discussed and they knew their father was very good at his job,” she said.
While Clayton was gone, the family tried to keep life as normal as possible. According to Susan,
the children went to all of their regular activities. Most nights were busy and on the evenings when
they were home, it became movie night.
“We had dinner together almost every day because it was our opportunity to catch up and we always
start our meals by stating three good things that happened that day,” says Susan.
Additionally, she has coordinated her work schedule so that she is able to drop her children
off and pick them up after school. She noted that it was so important to have at least one parent
around them all the time and NASA has always been supportive when it comes to time with family.
“Whether it is me or Clayton, one of us is always at the kid’s games and other activities.”
When the whole family is together, they enjoy swimming in their backyard pool and going out for
Mexican food. According to Susan, it’s the simple things that bring the family great joy.
Communicating from space!
Susan mentioned that she really felt lucky when it came to staying in touch with Clayton.
She said that they had email daily, a dedicated cell phone to talk and teleconferences on a
regular basis. This way, the children could see their father was safe and healthy.
“We really feel blessed because there are so many other families out there that have a spouse
gone for months at a time and don’t have the opportunity to talk all of the time,” she said.
Susan had a fantastic story that happened one time while she was visiting Clayton’s family
in Omaha. While at a Perkins restaurant, she said they tried to tell their waitress that her
husband was the Omaha native astronaut in space, but she wasn’t buying it. As she laughed,
she said that Clayton just happened to call on her cell phone – from space. As the group
joked, they put the waitress on the phone with him and he explained he really was in space.
She said that the waitress had a great story to tell her family after work!
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