On Feb. 20, 1962, John Glenn orbited the Earth in the Friendship 7 spacecraft, the first American to do so. Half a century later, the nation’s ambitions for space are in a state of flux; NASA has decommissioned the Space Shuttle and can no longer get astronauts into space without the help of the Russian Soyuz (a situation that would have been unthinkable in the early sixties). Yet private space ventures, which hope to offer services from private space cargo transportation to suborbital space tourism and beyond, are burgeoning.
In honor of the anniversary, we spoke to Clayton Anderson, a NASA astronaut who spent 167 days in space, primarily on the International Space Station, over the course of two space flights. Anderson, the first Nebraskan in space, told us that being in space is like being “Superman every day.” Follow his tweets @astro_clay.
Txchnologist: You were quite young when the Friendship 7 embarked on its orbit. Do you have any memories of that time?
Clayton Anderson: No, I was too young to remember that. The Apollo timeframe, in 1968, is when I remember my first experience with watching Apollo 8 astronauts go behind the moon. That was when I decided to become an astronaut. I was 8 years old.
Clay Anderson in an extravehicular activity (ie spacewalk) in April 2010. Courtesy NASA
Txch: Have you met John Glenn?
CA: I’ve had that honor a couple [of] times. I was a brand new astronaut. John had just flown on his mission when he was 77 years old, and there was a welcome back parade in Houston. As new astronauts, the class of ‘98 participated in that parade honoring John Glenn and the crew of his mission. We shook his hand, and we were able to have him give us a short lecture as new astronauts. The first time I met Mr. Glenn I was extremely nervous. That was pretty special. The thing that always stuck with me about John Glenn is he carried himself with such honor, pride, and dignity, and the fact that he always did it the right way. He represents out country at the highest level. He’s a very wonderful guy and we actually attended the same church in Webster, Texas. He’s a special American.
Txch: What does this anniversary mean for NASA?
CA: I think it’s hugely important. The anniversary of John Glenn being the first American to orbit the earth is a significant milestone in our nation’s space program. He is one of the pioneers. Guys like me that have had privilege of flying in space, we fly on shoulders of people like John Glenn.
Txch: Did NASA throw a party for the anniversary?
CA: I think they’re doing lots of events. As a matter of fact, I believe John Glenn is or was at Ohio State University to do some speeches, lectures, and forums to discuss the history and future of our space program with key dignitaries from NASA. I think a lot of things going on.
Txch: What do you think the next horizon of space ventures will be?
CA: I don’t have any specifics, but my desire is for the United States to remain the preeminent space faring nation. I’m hopeful our administration and congress will also believe that and we will continue to push to do things and provide funding to allow America to be preeminent space faring nation.
Txch: What are your thoughts on private space ventures; how would they affect your job, your training, or the mystique of space?
CA: I’m an advocate of commercialization of space because I want as many human beings on our planet to experience outer space as I have. That’s key for commercial folks to be able to do it, and key for as many human beings in the future to have that opportunity. I don’t know that it will take away anything from what NASA is doing. It will offload us so NASA can explore deeper into space while the commercial industry would provide us with the ability to get to and from Earth. I hope they succeed because it would help NASA carry out their future missions.
Txch: What’s it like to be in space?
CA: I was Superman every day.
Top image: Anderson watches as a water bubble floats in the middeck of space shuttle Discovery during the STS-131 mission. Courtesy NASA
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