Iowa State has finally crossed over into the final frontier.

Clayton Anderson, an ISU graduate of aerospace engineering, became the first ISU alumnus to travel into space this summer.

He launched into space on June 8 with the goal of delivering a payload to the international space station.

Anderson is helping with routine maintenance, as well as building the station with a 55-foot robotic arm.

He even had to train in Russia for the mission.

Anderson has worked at NASA since 1981 on a summer internship.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy said it was good visibility for Iowa State to have an alumnus astronaut.

Anderson even has some ISU gear – a pennant, hat and shirt – given to him by Geoffroy.

“We are very proud of Clayton and we wish him well on his return,” Geoffroy said.

For Anderson, going into space is his dream finally coming to fruition, said Laverne Seversike, associate professor emeritus of aerospace engineering.

Seversike oversaw Anderson’s master thesis.

Ever since Anderson saw the Apollo 8 mission, he wanted to be an astronaut, Seversike said.

Seversike said he remembered having a talk with Anderson about getting a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, when Anderson only had an undergrad physics degree.

“I told him he would have to do extra work to catch up,” Seversike said, “and he was more than willing to do it.”

Seversike said he helped tailor a master’s program to help pick up undergraduate skills.

Seversike said nothing was going to stop Anderson from being an astronaut.

“[Anderson] could inspire other students that have the same aspirations,” Seversike said.

Seversike said the message to learn from Anderson was to work hard and persist.

“It always helps to have a role model,” Seversike said.