Chris Hadfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Hadfield
OC OOnt MSC CD
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Hadfield in July 2011
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| Born |
Chris Austin Hadfield
August 29, 1959 |
| Awards |
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| Space career | |
| CSA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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165 days, 16 hours, 18 minutes |
| Selection | 1992 CSA Group NASA Group 14 (1992) |
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Total EVAs
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2 |
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Total EVA time
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14 hours, 50 minutes |
| Missions |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | July 3, 2013 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |
 Air Command |
| Years of service | 1978–2003 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Chris Austin Hadfield (born August 29, 1959) is a Canadian retired astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot, musician, and writer. He was the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk in outer space. He flew on two Space Shuttle missions and also commanded the International Space Station (ISS). Before becoming an astronaut, he was a fighter pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces for 25 years.
Chris Hadfield was inspired to become an astronaut as a child. He watched the first Moon landing by Apollo 11 on TV. He went to high school in Oakville, Ontario and Milton, Ontario. He earned his glider pilot license as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. After joining the Canadian Armed Forces, he got an engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Hadfield learned to fly many types of aircraft in the military. He eventually became a test pilot, flying experimental planes. He also earned a master's degree in aviation systems.
In 1992, Hadfield was chosen for the Canadian astronaut program. He first flew into space in November 1995 on STS-74. On this mission, he visited the Russian space station Mir. He flew again in April 2001 on STS-100. During this mission, he visited the ISS and walked in space to help install Canadarm2. In December 2012, he flew for a third time to join Expedition 34 on the ISS.
When Expedition 34 ended in March 2013, Hadfield became the commander of the ISS. He was in charge of five astronauts. He helped run many science experiments about how low gravity affects humans. During this mission, he shared his life on the space station. He took pictures of Earth and posted them online. He also became famous for playing the guitar and singing in space. Hadfield returned to Earth in May 2013. He announced his retirement soon after, ending a 35-year career as a pilot and astronaut. He has written five books, including his autobiography, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.
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Early Life and Family
Chris Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Roger and Eleanor Hadfield, live in Milton, Ontario. He grew up on a corn farm in southern Ontario. As a child, he was a member of a Wolf Cub Pack. He became interested in flying and being an astronaut at age nine. This happened when he watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing on television.
On December 23, 1981, Chris Hadfield married his high school girlfriend, Helene Walter. They have three children: Kyle, Evan, and Kristin. Before becoming a test pilot, Hadfield worked as a ski instructor. He is a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. He even wore a Leafs jersey under his spacesuit when he returned from space in 2013.
Education and Military Career
Hadfield went to White Oaks Secondary School and Milton District High School. As a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, he earned a glider pilot scholarship at age 15. He also got a powered pilot scholarship at age 16. In 1978, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces. He studied at Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada. He earned an engineering degree in 1982.
He trained as a fighter pilot and flew different jets. He was the first Canadian pilot to intercept a Soviet bomber in the Canadian Arctic. In the late 1980s, Hadfield attended the US Air Force Test Pilot School. He tested various aircraft and worked on research for NASA. He also earned a master's degree in aviation systems in 1992. In total, Hadfield has flown over 70 different types of aircraft.
Astronaut Career
In June 1992, Chris Hadfield was chosen as one of four new Canadian astronauts. He was assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He worked on technical and safety issues for Space Shuttle operations. He also helped develop the "glass shuttle cockpit" (a modern digital control panel). Hadfield was NASA's chief CAPCOM (the voice of mission control talking to astronauts) for 25 Space Shuttle missions. From 1996 to 2000, he was the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency.
From 2001 to 2003, he worked in Star City, Russia. He coordinated activities for International Space Station crews in Russia. He also trained to be a flight engineer cosmonaut in the Soyuz spacecraft. He learned to do spacewalks in the Russian Orlan spacesuit.
Hadfield retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2003. He continued as a civilian astronaut for the CSA. He was chief of robotics for the NASA Astronaut Office from 2003 to 2006. He was also chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006 to 2008. In May 2010, Hadfield commanded the NEEMO 14 mission. He lived and worked underwater for 14 days in the Aquarius underwater lab.
In 2010, NASA announced that Hadfield would be the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station. He led Expedition 35 after launching on December 19, 2012. He stayed on the station for five months. He returned to Earth on May 13, 2013. In June 2013, Hadfield announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency. He said he would move back to Canada after living in the United States for his career.
Hadfield is excited about future missions to Mars. He once said he would be honored to be the first person to visit Mars, even if it was a one-way trip.
STS-74 Mission
Hadfield was a mission specialist on STS-74 in November 1995. This was NASA's second Space Shuttle mission to meet and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis attached a docking module to Mir. They also transferred over 1,000 kg of supplies to the cosmonauts. Hadfield was the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit. He was also the only Canadian to ever board Mir.
STS-100 Mission
In April 2001, Hadfield was a mission specialist on STS-100. This mission was to help build the International Space Station (ISS). The crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour delivered and installed Canadarm2. This was a new Canadian-built robotic arm. During the 11-day flight, Hadfield performed two spacewalks. This made him the first Canadian to float freely in space outside a spacecraft. During his first spacewalk, he had severe eye irritation. This was caused by the anti-fog solution on his spacesuit visor. It temporarily blinded him. In total, Hadfield spent 14 hours and 50 minutes outside. He traveled 10 times around the world during his spacewalks.
International Space Station Commander
On December 19, 2012, Hadfield launched on the Soyuz TMA-07M flight. He stayed on the ISS for a long time as part of Expedition 35. He arrived at the station two days later. He became the first Canadian to command the ISS in March 2013. On May 12, 2013, he handed over command of the ISS. He returned home on the Soyuz spacecraft on May 13. He became very popular during his time on the ISS. He ended his time on the station by singing "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. He recorded the music video on the ISS.
Music in Space
During his free time on Expedition 35, Hadfield recorded music for an album. He used a Larrivée Parlor guitar that was already on the ISS. The first song recorded in space, "Jewel in the Night", was released on YouTube on Christmas Eve 2012.
He also collaborated with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies. Their song, Is Somebody Singing?, was released in February 2013. Hadfield sang this song with singers across Canada for the Music Monday program. He has also performed with his brother Dave Hadfield. Their "Canada Song" was released on YouTube on Canada Day 2014.
On May 12, 2013, Hadfield released his music video of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. He recorded it on the ISS. As of April 2022, the video has over 51 million views on YouTube. In October 2015, Hadfield released Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can. This album included songs he recorded on the International Space Station.
After Retirement
After retiring, Chris Hadfield was interviewed by Maclean's magazine. He also wrote an article for Wired magazine in December 2013. In the article, he shared his thoughts about his time on the International Space Station.
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In October 2013, the University of Waterloo announced that Hadfield would join them as a professor. He teaches and advises in aviation programs. He also helps with research on astronaut health. In 2017, Hadfield hosted the BBC show Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?. In this show, 12 contestants competed to become astronaut candidates.
Hadfield also hosts a web series about space exploration on MasterClass. In February 2021, he joined the Space Advisory Board for Virgin Galactic. This company aims to make space travel more accessible.
Books by Chris Hadfield
Hadfield's 2013 autobiography is called An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything. This book talks about his professional life and work. It shares many examples from his journey to commanding Expedition 35. The book became a New York Times bestseller. It was also the bestselling book in Canada about a Canadian subject.
In 2021, Hadfield released his first novel, The Apollo Murders. This is a thriller set during the Cold War. A sequel, The Defector, was released in 2023.
Awards and Honours
Chris Hadfield has received many awards and special honours. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 1996. He became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014. He also received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2002. He has two Meritorious Service Cross medals, one military and one civilian.
In 1988, Hadfield was named the top pilot graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. He was also named US Navy Test Pilot of the Year in 1991. He was inducted into Canada's Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005. The Royal Military College gave him an honorary Doctorate of Engineering in 1996.
Hadfield was featured on Royal Canadian Mint silver and gold coins in 2001. These coins honored his spacewalk to install Canadarm2 on the International Space Station. The airport in Sarnia was renamed Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport in 1997. Two public schools are also named after him. The asteroid 14143 Hadfield is named after him. In 2005, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 820 Milton Blue Thunder Squadron was renamed the 820 Chris Hadfield Squadron. This was in honor of Hadfield, who was a cadet there. The Town of Milton also named a park and a street after him. In 2020, a new species of bee, Andrena hadfieldi, was named in his honor.
When he took command of the International Space Station, Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, sent him a personal message of congratulations.
Images for kids
See also
- List of University of Waterloo people
