At Iowa State, students are given the knowledge they need to reach for the stars. Some of them actually get there.

Astronaut Clayton Anderson, who graduated from Iowa State with a master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1983, returned to Ames Thursday.

Twenty-five middle schools participated in a discussion with Anderson via the Iowa Communications Network. During the discussion, Anderson spoke about technology and science in space.

At a College of Engineering reception in Howe Hall, Dean James Melsa welcomed Anderson. Anderson spoke to approximately 50 people, mixing humorous recollections of life at Iowa State with tales of his 19-year experience with NASA.

“The fact that I can serve my country as an astronaut is very important to me,” Anderson said.

Anderson began his career working on simulations. Later, he worked in the emergency center at the Johnson Space Flight Center. He was selected for astronaut training in 1998. Anderson is currently assigned to the International Space Station as a ground support astronaut until he is assigned to a space mission.

Anderson is proud of his contributions and said he has seen a change in the composition of the program.

“Civilians make up two-thirds of the Astronaut Corps, a departure from the beginning of the space program,” said Anderson, a civilian.

“In the old days, you had to be a jet jockey or military pilot, and you still do to fly the shuttle,” he said.

“But today we have a lot of astronauts who are doctors, physicists, vets – lots of different professions.”

Anderson spoke about his personal experiences during training during the reception.

“How many people can say they’ve been to the Black Sea in a Russian space capsule with a Russian commander learning to escape in case of a cold-water landing?” Anderson said.

Rebuking critics of manned space flights, Anderson said certain jobs in space require human presence.

“There are certain things we do in space that simply require people. The robotics technology simply isn’t good enough to totally replace humans,” he said.

Anderson was invited to visit by Anthony Pometto, director of the NASA Food Technology Commercial Space Center.

“The fact that he came from the Midwest and has no military experience, with an educational background like mine, is very inspiring,” said Jill Cattrysse, junior in aerospace engineering.