Chris Hadfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colonel
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 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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| 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 |
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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 on August 29, 1959, is a famous Canadian astronaut, engineer, pilot, musician, and writer. He made history as the first Canadian to walk in space. He also commanded the International Space Station (ISS). Before becoming an astronaut, he spent 25 years serving in the Canadian Armed Forces as a fighter pilot.
Contents
Meet Chris Hadfield: Astronaut and Explorer
Early Life and Dreams of Space
Chris Hadfield grew up on a corn farm in Milton, Ontario. As a child, he was fascinated by flying. At age nine, he watched the first Moon landing on TV. This amazing event inspired him to dream of becoming an astronaut.
He attended high school in Oakville and Milton. As a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, he earned his glider pilot licence. This was an early step in his journey to the stars.
Becoming a Pilot and Engineer
After high school, Chris joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1978. He studied engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1982.
During his military career, Hadfield learned to fly many different types of aircraft. He became a skilled test pilot, flying experimental planes. He even became the first Canadian pilot to intercept a Soviet bomber in the Canadian Arctic. He also earned a master's degree in aviation systems in the United States. In total, he has flown over 70 different kinds of aircraft!
Journey to Becoming an Astronaut
In 1992, Chris Hadfield was chosen for the Canadian astronaut program. He was one of only four people selected from thousands of applicants. He then moved to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
At NASA, he worked on technical and safety issues for space shuttle missions. He also helped develop the "glass cockpit" for the shuttles. For 25 Space Shuttle missions, Hadfield was the chief CAPCOM. This meant he was the voice of mission control, talking directly to astronauts in space. From 2001 to 2003, he worked in Russia, helping to coordinate activities for the International Space Station. He also trained to be a flight engineer on the Soyuz spacecraft.
First Space Mission: Visiting Mir
Chris Hadfield's first trip to space was in November 1995. He was a mission specialist on STS-74. This mission involved the Space Shuttle Atlantis docking with the Russian space station Mir.
During this flight, the crew attached a special module to Mir. They also delivered over 1,000 kg of supplies. Hadfield was the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm robotic arm in orbit. He was also the only Canadian ever to visit Mir.
Second Mission: Spacewalking for Canadarm2
In April 2001, Hadfield flew to space again on STS-100. This time, he visited the International Space Station (ISS). His main task was to help install Canadarm2, a new Canadian-built robotic arm.
During this mission, Hadfield performed two spacewalks. This made him the first Canadian to ever leave a spacecraft and float freely in space! During one spacewalk, he experienced a minor issue with his spacesuit visor. In total, he spent nearly 15 hours outside the spacecraft, traveling around the world ten times.
Commanding the International Space Station
Chris Hadfield's third and final mission began on December 19, 2012. He launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft to live on the ISS. In March 2013, he became the commander of the ISS as part of Expedition 35. He was in charge of a crew of five astronauts.
During his time on the station, Hadfield became very popular. He shared amazing pictures of Earth from space on social media. He also played the guitar and recorded music. His video of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" from space became a global sensation. He returned to Earth in May 2013, ending his incredible 35-year career.
Music from Orbit: A Space Rock Star
While on the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield recorded music. He used a special guitar that was already on the ISS. His first song recorded in space, "Jewel in the Night," was released on YouTube in December 2012.
He also collaborated with musician Ed Robertson on a song called Is Somebody Singing?. This song was performed with singers across Canada. On May 12, 2013, just before returning to Earth, Hadfield released his famous music video for "Space Oddity." As of 2025, this video has been viewed over 55 million times on YouTube! In October 2015, he released an album of his space songs called Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can.
Life After Space: Teacher and Author
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After retiring from the Canadian Space Agency in July 2013, Chris Hadfield continued to inspire. He joined the University of Waterloo as a professor in 2014. There, he advised on aviation programs and research about astronaut health.
In 2017, he hosted a BBC show called Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?. On the show, contestants competed in challenges similar to real astronaut training. He also hosted a web series about space exploration on MasterClass. In 2021, he joined Virgin Galactic's Space Advisory Board.
Inspiring Through Books
Chris Hadfield is also a successful author. His 2013 autobiography, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, became a New York Times bestseller. It shares lessons from his life and career.
He also writes thrilling novels. His debut novel, The Apollo Murders, was released in 2021. It's a Cold War thriller set in space. He has since released two sequels, The Defector in 2023 and Final Orbit in 2025.
Awards and Lasting Legacy
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Chris Hadfield has received many awards and special honours. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 1996 and became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014. He also received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2002.
His achievements have been recognized in many ways. The Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport is named after him. Two public schools in Ontario also bear his name. Even an asteroid, 14143 Hadfield, is named in his honour! The 820 Milton Blue Thunder Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where he was once a cadet, was renamed the 820 Chris Hadfield Squadron.
When he commanded the International Space Station, Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, sent him a personal message of congratulations. Later, Charles III met with Hadfield in 2023 to discuss space sustainability.
Images for kids
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Chris Hadfield at a meeting in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Hadfield para niños
