Chris Hadfield

Early Life and Path to Aviation

Chris Austin Hadfield was born on August 29, 1959, in Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up on a corn farm in southern Ontario. He pursued this passion through the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, earning his glider pilot licence at 15 and his powered pilot licence at 16. Hadfield attended White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville and graduated as an Ontario Scholar from Milton District High School in 1977. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces, setting him on a path that would combine military service with advanced education. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering with honours from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 1982, following two years of study at Royal Roads Military College.

Distinguished Military and Test Pilot Career

Hadfield's military career was marked by excellence and pioneering achievements from its outset. After basic flight training, he graduated as the top student from Basic Jet Training at CFB Moose Jaw in 1983. He then trained as a tactical fighter pilot on CF-116 and CF-18 Hornet aircraft at CFB Cold Lake. As a fighter pilot with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, he flew NORAD intercept missions and notably became the first CF-18 pilot to intercept a Soviet Tu-95 bomber in the Canadian Arctic. Selected for the prestigious US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Hadfield graduated as the Distinguished Graduate in 1988, winning the Liethen-Tittle Award. He subsequently served as an exchange test pilot with the US Navy at Patuxent River, where his work from 1989 to 1992 was highly varied and impactful.

His test pilot accomplishments during this period were numerous and technically demanding. He conducted performance testing on the F/A-18 Hornet and A-7 Corsair aircraft and performed research for NASA on flight simulation. Hadfield piloted the first military flight of F/A-18 enhanced performance engines and the first flight test of the National Aerospace Plane's experimental hydrogen propulsion engine. He also helped develop a new handling qualities rating scale for high-angle-of-attack flight and participated in the critical F/A-18 out-of-control recovery test program. Concurrently, he pursued graduate studies, earning a Master of Science in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1992. In total, Hadfield has piloted over 70 different types of aircraft throughout his career.

Astronaut Selection and Ground Roles

In June 1992, Chris Hadfield was selected as one of four new Canadian astronauts from a pool of 5,330 applicants. He was assigned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where his early work involved addressing technical and safety issues for the Space Shuttle program, contributing to the development of the glass cockpit, and supporting launches at Kennedy Space Center. Hadfield served as NASA's chief capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for 25 Space Shuttle missions, acting as the primary liaison between mission control and crews in orbit. From 1996 to 2000, he served as the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, coordinating the activities of Canadian astronauts. His expertise and leadership led to a posting as NASA's director of operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, from 2001 to 2003, where he oversaw all ISS crew activities in Russia and trained as a Soyuz flight engineer.

After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces as a colonel in 2003, Hadfield continued his NASA roles as a civilian CSA astronaut. He served as chief of robotics for the Astronaut Office from 2003 to 2006 and then as chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006 to 2008. In 2010, he served as commander of the NEEMO 14 mission, living and working underwater for fourteen days in the Aquarius laboratory. NASA announced that same year that Hadfield would become the first Canadian to command the International Space Station, leading Expedition 35. This appointment capped a long preparatory journey that included serving as a backup crew member for Expedition 21 in 2008 and 2009.

Spaceflight Missions and Command

Chris Hadfield's spaceflight career comprises three historic missions, each marking a significant first for Canada. His first flight was as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-74 in November 1995. This mission involved docking with the Russian space station Mir, where the crew attached a docking module and transferred supplies. Hadfield operated the Canadarm in orbit, becoming the first Canadian to do so and the only Canadian ever to board Mir. His second mission came in April 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, an ISS assembly flight. The crew delivered and installed the Canadian-built robotic arm, Canadarm2, and the Raffaello logistics module.

During this 11-day flight, Hadfield performed two spacewalks, making him the first Canadian to ever leave a spacecraft and float freely in space. His first spacewalk was marked by a challenging incident where anti-fog solution caused severe eye irritation, temporarily blinding him. In total, he spent 14 hours and 50 minutes outside the spacecraft. Hadfield's third and most prominent mission began on December 19, 2012, when he launched aboard Soyuz TMA-07M. He arrived at the ISS two days later as a flight engineer for Expedition 34. In March 2013, he assumed command of the station for Expedition 35, becoming the first Canadian commander of the ISS. He was responsible for a crew of five astronauts and oversaw dozens of scientific experiments. Hadfield handed over command on May 12, 2013, and returned to Earth the following day, concluding a five-month stay in space.

Public Engagement and Social Media Legacy

During his command of the International Space Station, Hadfield changed public engagement with space exploration through an unprecedented and savvy use of social media. With the assistance of his son, Evan, he chronicled daily life in orbit by posting thousands of photographs of Earth, answering questions from the public, and demonstrating scientific phenomena in microgravity. His accessible and enthusiastic communication earned him recognition from Forbes as perhaps the most social media savvy astronaut ever to leave Earth. This outreach extended to television, where he was a frequent guest on news and talk shows, bringing the experience of spaceflight directly into living rooms across Canada and the world.

Hadfield's cultural impact was perhaps most powerfully cemented through music. He recorded the first original song in space, Jewel in the Night, in December 2012. In February 2013, he collaborated with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies on Is Somebody Singing, which was broadcast nationally by CBC Music. His most widely recognized moment came on May 12, 2013, when he released a music video of himself performing a modified version of David Bowie's Space Oddity while floating aboard the ISS. The video, which had garnered over 56 million views on YouTube by May 2026, became a global sensation and a poignant symbol of human creativity in space. In October 2015, he released the album Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can, featuring songs recorded on the station.

Post-Retirement Career and Authorship

Following his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency in July 2013, Hadfield began a second career as an author, professor, and media personality. In the fall of 2014, he joined the University of Waterloo as a professor for a three-year term, advising in aviation programs and contributing to health research for astronauts. His 2013 autobiography, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, became a New York Times and Canadian bestseller, distilling lessons from his career for a general audience. Hadfield then turned to fiction, releasing a Cold War space thriller, The Apollo Murders, in 2021. He followed this with sequels The Defector in 2023 and Final Orbit in 2025, and by October 2025 had drafted an outline for a fourth book in the series. His media work included hosting the BBC television competition Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? in 2017 and creating a web series on space exploration for MasterClass.

On February 9, 2021, Virgin Galactic announced that Chris Hadfield would be joining their Space Advisory Board. His role is to provide advice to senior management as the company works to open space for the benefit of all. He joined this board alongside other space experts, including former astronaut Sandra Magnus. This appointment is part of his continued advocacy and involvement in space exploration following his retirement.

Honours, Awards, and Recognition

Chris Hadfield's exceptional service has been recognized with some of Canada's highest civilian and military honours. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 1996 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014. He is the only Canadian to have received both the military and civilian versions of the Meritorious Service Cross, awarded in 2001 and 2013 respectively. His other national honours include the Vanier Award (2001), the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). From the United States, he received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2002. His test pilot prowess was acknowledged with the US Navy Test Pilot of the Year award in 1991 and his induction into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hadfield's legacy is permanently etched into Canadian institutions and geography. Several locations bear his name, including the Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport (renamed 1997) and public schools in Milton and Bradford, Ontario. The Royal Canadian Mint issued commemorative coins for his 2001 spacewalk, and asteroid 14143 Hadfield is named in his honour. The Royal Military College Club granted him an honorary Doctorate of Engineering in 1996, and he was added to the college's Wall of Honour in 2014. Even a species of bee, discovered in 2020, was named Andrena hadfieldi for him. His affiliations are extensive, including membership in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and roles as honorary patron of Lambton College and a board member of the International Space School Foundation.

Published Works

Chris Hadfield is the author of several bestselling books that blend memoir, advice, and fiction. His works are characterized by the detailed technical knowledge and reflective perspective gained from his unique career. His first book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, published in 2013, is a memoir and philosophical guide that became a number one New York Times bestseller. The following year he released You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes, a photographic journey featuring images of Earth taken from the ISS. In 2021, he began a thriller series with his debut novel The Apollo Murders, set during the Cold War space race. He continued the series with The Defector in 2023 and Final Orbit in 2025. Hadfield has stated that he has drafted an outline for a fourth book in the series, indicating his continued activity as an author.

• An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth (2013), A memoir and philosophical guide that became a number one New York Times bestseller.
• You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes (2014), A photographic journey featuring images of Earth taken from the ISS.
• The Apollo Murders (2021), A debut thriller novel set during the Cold War space race.
• The Defector (2023), The second novel in his thriller series.
• Final Orbit (2025), The third instalment in the series.

Questions about Chris Hadfield

How many times did Chris Hadfield go to space?

Chris Hadfield flew to space three times. His first mission was STS-74 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in November 1995, which docked with the Mir space station. His second was STS-100 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in April 2001, where he helped install Canadarm2 on the ISS and performed two spacewalks. His third and longest mission began in December 2012 aboard Soyuz TMA-07M, which took him to the ISS for a five-month stay as part of Expeditions 34 and 35, during which he served as commander.

What military honours did Chris Hadfield receive?

Chris Hadfield received several high-ranking military honours for his service. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross (Military) in 2001. He is also the recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration for long service. During his test pilot career, he was named US Navy Test Pilot of the Year in 1991. His earlier military achievements include graduating as top pilot from the US Air Force Test Pilot School in 1988, where he won the Liethen-Tittle Award.

What songs did Chris Hadfield record in space?

Chris Hadfield recorded several pieces of music while on the International Space Station. He recorded the first original song in space, Jewel in the Night, and released it on Christmas Eve 2012. In February 2013, he collaborated with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies on Is Somebody Singing (I.S.S.), which was broadcast on CBC. His most famous recording is a cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity, the video for which was released in May 2013 and has garnered tens of millions of views. These recordings were later included on his 2015 album Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can.

What is Chris Hadfield best known for?

Chris Hadfield is best known for being the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. He commanded Expedition 35 in 2013, responsible for a crew of five astronauts and dozens of scientific experiments. He is also renowned as the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk, which he did in 2001 during the STS-100 mission to help install Canadarm2. He was the first Canadian to board the Russian Mir space station during the STS-74 mission in 1995. His social media presence from space, where he posted photographs and recorded music, including a version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, brought him significant public recognition.

What did Chris Hadfield do after retiring as an astronaut?

After retiring from the Canadian Space Agency in June 2013, Chris Hadfield moved back to Canada and pursued several private interests. He became a professor at the University of Waterloo for a three year term starting in 2014, advising in aviation programs and astronaut health research. He authored the New York Times bestselling autobiography An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth and later wrote a series of thriller novels beginning with The Apollo Murders in 2021. He also hosted the BBC television show Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? and in 2021, he joined Virgin Galactic's Space Advisory Board to provide management advice.

Where did Chris Hadfield go to school and university?

Chris Hadfield attended White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, and graduated from Milton District High School in 1977 as an Ontario Scholar. After enlisting in the Canadian Armed Forces, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, graduating in 1982. He later obtained a Master of Science degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1992, where his thesis focused on the high angle attack aerodynamics of the F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet. As a youth, he was also a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where he earned his glider and powered pilot licences.

Sources and further reading

• Chris Hadfield (Wikipedia)
• What was it like to play with Chris Hadfield? (symphonynovascotia.ca)
• Colonel Chris Hadfield | Astronaut | Business Leader (chrishadfield.ca)
• Chris Hadfield | The Institute (theinstitute.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-06.