Astronaut Anderson Checks in With Ashland-GW Students

By John Ferak, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

ASHLAND, Neb. — Serena Rohrbough became the first local student to interview astronaut Clayton Anderson as her hometown’s hero traveled Wednesday through outer space.

The Ashland-Greenwood School’s question-and-answer session with Anderson left the sixth-grader sure of one thing.

Serena, 11, prefers to become a teacher or veterinarian, not an astronaut, she said.

"I like to be around people," she said. "And I don’t think being away from our gravity would suit me very well. I think I would get very nauseous."

Anderson, a 1977 graduate of the school, spoke with students at his alma mater during a 10-minute radio interview from aboard the International Space Station as it orbited the Earth at 17,500 miles per hour.

The eight students who gathered in the school library asked Anderson, 48, a wide range of questions.

His favorite food in outer space?

"Dessert," Anderson replied. "Chocolate pudding. Whenever it comes into the menu, I try to gobble it up as much as I can."

Students also wanted to know if Nebraska’s first native-born astronaut became ill during his liftoff aboard the space shuttle Atlantis.

"No, I did not get sick at all," Anderson told them. "No nauseous feelings. The shuttle ride was hard on my body. It was bumpy, loud, but very, very exciting."

Dottie Heusman, Ashland-Greenwood’s curriculum supervisor, said the event was history in the making for her school.

The Ashland Amateur Radio Club helped set up the communications equipment so the students could speak with Anderson as he traveled in orbit about 250 miles above the Earth.

"It’s hard to believe we just did that," Heusman said afterward. "I am so impressed. It sounded like Clay was across the street. And I was worried that we would not be able to make the connection."

While in space, Anderson said, he has conducted various plant experiments for NASA. He’s currently growing heads of lettuce, basil and another plant he isn’t sure of, he said, laughing.

In preparing for the mission, Anderson told the students he had to learn soldering skills for any possible mechanical repairs. Thankfully, he has not had to put his new skills to the test, he said.

Anderson said working for NASA has not strained his relationship with his wife and two children.

"It’s pretty easy for me to have a personal life," he said. "I can go to my son’s ballgames and my daughter’s gymnastics without having any problems."

Once he returns home in November, Anderson said, he plans to "give giant hugs and kisses" to his family and "have a Nebraska cornfed T-bone steak with a baked potato."

Before signing off, Anderson had a few words of advice for the students.

"I think if there’s one thing I learned, perseverance pays off," he said.

Since 1983, Anderson worked a variety of jobs at NASA before being selected for the June shuttle mission. He was rejected for the astronaut program numerous times before finally succeeding.

Eighth-grader Andrew Cameron, 13, said he wants to follow in Anderson’s footsteps.

This summer, Andrew attended a weeklong astronaut camp at the nearby Strategic Air & Space Museum, Ashland’s only student to do so.

Next year, Andrew wants to attend a more sophisticated camp at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the real-life astronauts train.

"Right now, my family and I are debating the cost," he said. "I think I need more experience training, if I were to come to work for NASA."

Andrew said he also wants to meet Anderson in person to ask him more questions about his outer space journey.

Over the years, Anderson has spoken to several classrooms in Ashland. His mother, Alice Anderson, a retired school employee, still lives in the town.

"We miss him and just think he’s a hero to Ashland," Andrew said. "He just gives encouragement to everyone in Ashland to go after your dreams."

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Copyright (c) 2007, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

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