MMI’s Anderson brother of a real space cadet

Kirby Anderson, a cytogenetic technologist at the Munroe-Meyer Institute – is the younger brother of astronaut Clayton Anderson, pictured on the computer screen. Kirby and his family were in Florida on June 8 to watch Clayton launch into space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Scientists at the cytogenetics laboratory at the Munroe-Meyer Institute recently took a call from the International Space Station.

Talk about a long distance call.

The only problem was the scientist whom the call was intended for, Kirby Anderson, wasn’t in the office.

He was still in Florida as part of a vacation during which he saw his older brother, astronaut Clayton Anderson, launched into orbit on the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was Clayton Anderson on the other end of the missed MMI call.

“He must have forgotten we were sticking around to go to Disney World,” Kirby Anderson said. “It’s understandable though. He does have a lot on his mind.”

The two brothers have since connected twice by phone, including a call from Clayton to Kirby on Father’s Day.

“That really blew me away,” Kirby said. “Here he’s in space with a lot to do, and he still thought enough to call me on Father’s Day. It really shows you what kind of person he is.”

Look to the sky On some clear nights it’s possible to see the International Space Station with the naked eye. Tonight just may be one of those nights. If the clouds stay away, the space station, which is carrying astronaut Clayton Anderson, will be visable for about three minutes starting at 10:12 p.m. The space station will come into view about 19 degrees above the horizon in the west northwest sky. The space station will be traveling south southeast across the sky. Weather permitting, the space station will visable on Friday and Sunday, too. Click here to see a Web site detailing times and locations of the space station on those days.

Kirby joined several family members and friends who went to Cape Canaveral, Fla., in the first week of June to watch Clayton go into space – where he will spend the next five months on the International Space Station.

It was both exciting and nerve-wracking to watch the shuttle launch knowing his brother was on board.

From growing up together in small-town Ashland, Neb., to attending college together at Hastings College – where the two manned the backfield for the school’s football team — to pursuing careers in science, the brothers share a strong bond.

So it would be only natural that Kirby was on edge as Atlantis launched.

Having only seen shuttle launches on television, he was bit unnerved when Atlantis rolled shortly after takeoff — a normal occurrence during a shuttle launch that doesn’t seem so dramatic when one’s brother isn’t on board, Kirby said.

“The perspective is so different,” Kirby said. “I worried until they officially declared it a successful launch. But that takes several minutes.”

Kirby, 46, his wife and three daughters, went to Florida on June 5, about three days before the launch, to visit with Clayton, 48.

Launch preparations kept Clayton from interacting much with his family and friends in the days leading up to liftoff. But Kirby did attend a beach barbecue with Clayton and other astronauts two days before the launch.

Also, the day before the launch Kirby got to wish his brother luck in what is called “The Wave Across the Ditch,” which entails the astronauts standing on one side of the road waving goodbye to loved ones on the other side of the road.

They are kept separate to prevent the astronauts from being exposed to bacteria, viruses and other malicious germs before heading into orbit.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches into space on June 8 carrying Clayton Anderson, brother of MMI’s Kirby Anderson. Clayton will spend the next five months aboard the International Space Station. (Photo by Taylor Anderson)

“Not being able to go over and give him a hug, that was kind of tough,” Kirby said.

Clayton is expected to return to earth in late October or early November. Kirby said he hopes to be able to go back to Florida to see his brother come home.

While he is overwhelmingly proud of having his older brother representing his country in space, he will breathe a little easier when Clayton gets his feet back on the ground, Kirby said.

“It’s really a combination of feelings, you’re obviously excited and thrilled, but at the same time, I’m very nervous about him being up there,” Kirby said. “I will be very happy to see him safe back on earth when the time comes.”