posted 11-10-2011 04:05 PM               

He had some choice words for Mission Control about space station procedures and life, and the bosses didn't want to hear it, he said.

"They told me I was too candid and blunt with Mission Control and others, and that my skill set did not match long-term space missions," Anderson said...

He has logged 167 days in space, including 38 hours outside the space station on six space walks.

Now, Anderson is helping other astronauts prepare for missions, with one eye on other jobs. He isn't sure whether he'll stay at NASA.

"I've been taken off active status," said Anderson, an Omaha native who considers Ashland, Neb., his hometown. "I've been made a management astronaut," supporting other astronauts' missions, he said.

posted 11-11-2011 02:00 AM            

Having watched recent pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight press conferences you hear the same dull answer to reporters questions as if NASA astronauts are too afraid to be candid.

posted 11-14-2011 06:00 PM               

He had some choice words for Mission Control about space station procedures and life, and the bosses didn't want to hear it, he said.

posted 01-13-2012 05:49 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Skylon:
His comments also have me wondering about the large number of "management" astronauts, with, at the moment, no clearly defined role.

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posted 01-15-2012 09:06 AM               

I got the feeling though that from just after 131, Clay likely knew it was going to be his last flight just looking at the numbers. His own path to becoming an astronaut was a classic example of "never give up" as he sent his application in a record number of times before being accepted and was in the process of looking for a new job when he got an interview for the 1996 class. He didn't get the job in 96, but he knew his shot at the 98 class was excellent and the rest was history. As it is, he has treated ALL his time as an astronaut at NASA as a priviledge and an honor (as do the rest of the candidates for the most part who joined up). If he had a blunt fiery nature, I doubt he would have gotten a flight. Maybe such a nature properly channeled would have gotten him a flight sooner. But his ISS expedition was delayed when one of the Russian cosmonauts assigned to his crew had a heart attack and got medically discharged from the program (meaning the crew got re-assigned) and Columbia didn't help matters either. He did a great job on orbit though and his accomplishments speak well of his career, from flying with two Russians with whom he had hardly trained with and the three of them getting along quite well to performing a staged EVA with Fyodr.

With having no knowledge on what he discussed with mission control, I do not believe it was anything safety related. So I would stow speculation on that avenue right now. I also do not believe it was anything on the grand scale of an Apollo 7 mutiny either, for those who might think it was something THAT big to warrant a grounding.

It "may" (and using may in quotes because as I said, I have NO knowledge on what was discussed) have been in regards to the training cycle for an ISS long duration mission as the current cycle has it at three years typically with about half of that taking place in Russia (and Clay was in that cycle longer due to the crew shakeup and Columbia). To my knowledge, it remains that way for both first time flyers and veterans. One might think if the vets have been through it before that their cycle might be cut back a little. But nope, all that training has to be done again, whether it soaked in last time or not and regardless of the mission goals. This can put a strain on families as typically the wives and kids can't move to Russia when an astronaut heads over there, except for maybe a two week vacation trip.

From that standpoint, with Clay likely thinking in the back of his head that two missions was going to be it for him, he likely approached certain topics in discussions with Mission Control with typical midwestern Nebraskan bluntness. People in my part of the country respect honesty on certain matters and with Clay being raised here, he has that trait. So he brought up what he felt he needed to bring up rather than trying to hold back and hope for a flight that would likely never come anyway. So, if "hypothetically" he were to say he would consider training for an ISS flight if the training cycle were shorter, than you of course know what the response would be when they have plenty of astronauts who have not flown yet itching to do what they can to get a seat.

Knowing Clay, he probably doesn't consider this a setback though and even though he now knows he won't fly again, he will throw everything behind his training responsibilities until retirement. Don't forget he was a NASA employee out of college (and he did internships before that), so he has seen a lot from 1982 onwards. He can retire with a full civil servant pension in a couple years and his wife has been at NASA a long time as well. He knows the NASA system at JSC as well as anybody and he isn't an outsider who has been brought into the astronaut corps.

posted 01-24-2013 07:57 PM               

Calling all Tweeps. Guess you know now that I have decided to retire after 30 years with NASA. It's been an awesome ride!

Ask you continue to follow and be part of my next adventure; whatever it turns out to be. Will be speaking and finishing my book! Stay tuned...and thanks!

Realized today after 30 years; 15 as an astronaut, 15 as an engineer. Symmetry is kind of cool! Last day is January 31, 2013.

posted 01-25-2013 05:22 PM               

"Anything is a possibility," the 53-year-old Anderson said. "No doors are closed."

posted 02-04-2013 04:57 PM               

NASA Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson Leaves Agency

NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson has retired from the space agency. Anderson flew in space twice, first in 2007 as a flight engineer for Expeditions 15 and 16 aboard the International Space Station, and finally as a mission specialist on STS-131 in 2010.

Anderson began his 30-year NASA career in 1983 as an engineer in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division at Johnson Space Center. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He trained as a backup crew member for Expeditions 12, 13 and 14. He most recently served in management and as space station Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM). Anderson conducted six spacewalks and has more than 167 days of spaceflight experience.

"Clay will certainly be missed in the Astronaut Office, especially for his technical expertise. His combination of shuttle, station long duration, and spacewalk experience was extremely valuable to us," said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office. "We wish him continued success in future endeavors, and know he will continue to captivate whenever and wherever he shares his spaceflight experiences."

Anderson holds a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in physics from Hastings College.