Michael P. Anderson, 43, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, a former instructor pilot and tactical officer, and a veteran of one space flight. Anderson received a bachelor of science in physics/astronomy from University of Washington in 1981 and a master of science in physics from Creighton University in 1990.

He served as Payload Commander and Mission Specialist 3 for STS-107. As payload commander he was responsible for the success (management) of the science mission aboard STS-107. As a member of the Blue Team, Anderson also worked with experiments on respiratory monitoring, combustion and Renal Stone Risk.

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Anderson flew on STS-89 in 1998 – the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Prior to STS-107, Anderson had logged over 211 hours in space.

Born December 25, 1959, in Plattsburgh, New York, he considered Spokane, Washington, to be his hometown. He was married.

Return to Space Shuttle Columbia