Chris Austin Hadfield
Canadian Astronaut for over 20 years
Chris Austin Hadfield was born on August 29, 1959 in Sarnia, Ontario. Chris is one of the most remarkable Canadian astronauts in history. Hadfield took part in a lot of "firsts" for Canadian space exploration. He was the first Canadian to be a space mission specialist for NASA, to operate the Canadarm in orbit, to do a spacewalk and to command the International Space Station. He was also the first to record a music video in space — David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”. (Wikipedia, last updated 2018, para.4 NASA Experience). Hadfield was the first Canadian in the launch support team at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Chris Hadfield has flown over 70 different types of aircraft. He spent most of his adult life in the United States for his job, but as of July 3, 2013 when he officially retired from being an Astronaut, he decided to move back to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area, Canada). Chris completed 5 space missions within his years working for NASA,
On the Soyuz TMA-07M (International Space Station) mission, he spent a total of 166 days on the ISS. |
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During his free time on the ISS mission, Chris Hadfield recorded music for his album, using a gravity tested guitar previously provided to the ISS in order for astronauts to play guitar in orbit. Hadfield released a music video recorded on the ISS of a modified rendition of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie before he landed back on earth.
Awards
- Shorty Award for Best in Science
- Order of Canada (2014)
- Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
- NASA Exceptional
- Service Medal (2002)
- Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
- Vanier Award (2001)
- Order of Ontario (1996)
Education and Training and Space Program Experience
Chris Hadfield was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets when he was a young teenager. He earned a Glider Pilot Scholarship at age 15 and Powered Pilot Scholarship at age 16. He attended White Oaks Secondary School and graduated as an Ontario Scholar from Milton District High School in 1977. After high school in 1978, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and spent two years at Royal Roads Military College from 1978-1980, followed by two years at the Royal Military College from 1980-1982, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1982. Chris also had
basic flight training at CFB Portage la Prairie at a young age. In 1983, he took honours as the top graduate from Basic Jet Training
University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1992 and also graduated with a master's degree in aviation systems. After all of this training, he attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School which gave him more leverage with becoming an astronaut with NASA.
In June 1992, Chris was selected, along with three others, from 5,330 applicants for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut program to take part in a training program as mission specialists for NASA. He was the Director of Operations for NASA and took on a major role on the ISS and also controlled the Canadarm for part of the mission.
Chris Hadfield was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets when he was a young teenager. He earned a Glider Pilot Scholarship at age 15 and Powered Pilot Scholarship at age 16. He attended White Oaks Secondary School and graduated as an Ontario Scholar from Milton District High School in 1977. After high school in 1978, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and spent two years at Royal Roads Military College from 1978-1980, followed by two years at the Royal Military College from 1980-1982, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1982. Chris also had
basic flight training at CFB Portage la Prairie at a young age. In 1983, he took honours as the top graduate from Basic Jet Training
University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1992 and also graduated with a master's degree in aviation systems. After all of this training, he attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School which gave him more leverage with becoming an astronaut with NASA.
In June 1992, Chris was selected, along with three others, from 5,330 applicants for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut program to take part in a training program as mission specialists for NASA. He was the Director of Operations for NASA and took on a major role on the ISS and also controlled the Canadarm for part of the mission.
Area of Expertise
His main area of expertise is mechanical engineering. Chris Hadfield was a mechanical engineer and that is one of the reasons why NASA hired him to be a large contributor to their space program as one of the main astronauts within their Space Program. He also flew a fighter jet plane and was very experienced at that. |
Interesting Facts
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