Plattsburgh in Clinton County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson

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Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

1. Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson (1959-2003) — Plattsburgh native, U.S. Air Force pilot, NASA astronaut, American hero — personified the best this country has to offer. Anderson was born at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base Hospital on Christmas Day of 1959. The son of Barbara and Bobbie Anderson, who serviced jets for the Air Force, Michael Anderson grew up primarily in Spokane, Washington, and earned a degree in physics and astronomy at the University of Washington and at graduation was commissioned an Air Force second lieutenant. He became a pilot, earning a master's degree in physics from Creighton University, and returned to Plattsburgh AFB, serving as aircraft commander instructor pilot and tactics officer. NASA selected him for astronaut training in 1994 while stationed at PAFB and he was assigned as a mission specialist. He logged more than 593 hours in space aboard two Space Shuttle missions, STS-89 (Endeavor) and STS-107 (Columbia), serving as payload commander in charge of science experiments on the latter flight. While returning to earth after a 16-day mission, Columbia was destroyed during reentry on Feb. 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members. Lt. Col. Michael Anderson, survived by his wife and two daughters, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

[Français] Lieutenant-colonel Michael P. Anderson (1959-2003) — Natif de Plattsburgh, pilote dans l'U.S. Airforce, astronaute de la NASA et héro Américain — il a personnifié le meilleur de ce que le pays a à offrir. M. Anderson est né à l'hôpital de la base aérienne de Plattsburgh la journée de Noël 1959. Fils de Barbara et Bobbie Anderson, qui travaillait sur les moteurs des avions de l'armée de l'air, Michael Anderson a grandi à Spokane, Washington et a reçu un diplôme en physique et astronomie de l'University of Washington. À sa graduation, il a été assigné comme second lieutenant de l'armée de l'air où il est devenu pilote. Il a reçu une maîtrise en physique de Creighton University pour ensuite revenir à la base aérienne de Plattsburgh où il a été assigné comme commandant de bord, pilote instructeur et officier tactique. En 1994, toujours lorsqu'il était assigné à la base aérienne de Plattsburgh, il a été sélectionné par la NASA pour devenir astronaute et a été assigné comme spécialiste de mission. Il a enregistré plus de 593 heures dans l'espace comme commandant de la charge utile responsable des expériences scientifiques lors de deux missions dans les navettes spatiales STS-89 (Endeavor) et STS-107 (Columbia). Après une mission de 16 jours dans l'espace, la navette spatiale Columbia a été détruite lors de sa rentrée le 1 er février 2003, tuant les sept membres de l'équipage. Le lieutenant-colonel Michael Anderson laisse dans son deuil son épouse et deux filles. Il a été décerné la Congressional Space Medal of Honor à titre posthume.

Erected 2020

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Disasters • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is February 1, 2003.

Location. 44° 41.794′ N, 73° 27.154′ W. Marker is in Plattsburgh, New York, in Clinton County. It is on Durkee Street just south of Bridge Street (Empire State Trail) (U.S. 9), on the right when traveling south. The marker is located in front of the mural, which spans the north side of the building at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 Durkee Street, Plattsburgh NY 12901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Adirondacks & North Country,

and in the Champlain Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Marker detail: Michael P. Anderson image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Michael P. Anderson

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: To Commemorate Macdonough's Victory (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Presbyterian Church of Plattsburgh (about 500 feet away); First Church (about 500 feet away); Strand Theatre (about 600 feet away); City Fire Department Horicon Hall (about 600 feet away); Hotel Cumberland - 1854 (about 700 feet away); War Memorial (about 800 feet away); The Ark (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plattsburgh.

Regarding Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson. An outdoor mural in the city of Plattsburgh was unveiled in October 2020 honoring Michael P. Anderson. On July 4, 2021, the city of Plattsburgh held a dedication for the mural, where the Anderson family was given a key to the city and led the annual Independence Day parade.

Also see . . .
1. Michael P. Anderson (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Anderson had logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time when NASA selected him for astronaut training in December 1994. Anderson was one of 19 candidates selected from a pool of 2,962 applicants. Special
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

3. Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson Marker
Looking south; the mural spans the north wall of the building in front of the marker.
honors: Distinguished graduate, USAF Communication Electronics Officers course; The Armed Forces Communication Electronics Associations Academic Excellence Award; and Undergraduate Pilot Training Academic Achievement Award for Class 87-08 Vance AFB
Anderson reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight crew assignment as a mission specialist. Anderson was initially assigned technical duties in the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office, but went on to log more than 593 hours in space aboard two Space Shuttle missions.

(Submitted on March 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The mission, designated STS-107, was the twenty-eighth flight for the orbiter, the 113th flight of the Space Shuttle fleet and the 88th after the Challenger disaster. It was dedicated to research in various fields, mainly on board the SpaceHab module inside the shuttle's payload bay. During launch, a piece of the insulating foam broke off from the Space Shuttle external tank and struck
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2024

4. Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson Mural
the thermal protection system tiles on the orbiter's left wing. Similar foam shedding had occurred during previous Space Shuttle launches, causing damage that ranged from minor to near-catastrophic, but some engineers suspected that the damage to Columbia was more serious. Before reentry, NASA managers limited the investigation, reasoning that the crew could not have fixed the problem if it had been confirmed. When Columbia reentered the atmosphere of Earth, the damage allowed hot atmospheric gases to penetrate the heat shield and destroy the internal wing structure, which caused the orbiter to become unstable and break apart.

(Submitted on March 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.