Clarkson alumnus to head final mission of Atlantis

POTSDAM — A Clarkson University alumnus will direct one of the last three space shuttle missions.

Michael L. Sarafin will be the lead flight director for the last flight of the Atlantis, which is scheduled for launch May 14. During the 12-day flight, the shuttle will take parts and hardware to the international space station, and astronauts will conduct three spacewalks, according to the NASA website.

Mr. Sarafin graduated from Clarkson in 1994 with a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering. After graduation, he got a job at Johnson Space Center in Houston as a software engineer. The next year, he became a guidance, navigation and control officer and worked on 30 flights in Mission Control. He became a flight director in 2005 and has led three missions.

Atlantis is scheduled to take off at 2:20 p.m. May 14. The last two shuttle flights are scheduled to take place this fall.