Who is Chris Hadfield?
Chris Austin Hadfield, OC, OOnt, MSC, CD, is a famous Canadian astronaut. He has been the first Canadian to walk in space.
When and where was Chris Hadfield born?
Chris Hadfield was born on August 29, 1959 in Sarnia, Ontario.
What are some things from Chris Hadfield's' childhood?
Chris Hadfield was raised on a farm in Southern Ontario. He became interested in flying, and wanted to become an astronaut at the age of nine, when he watched the Apollo 11 on television land on the moon.
What education does Chris Hadfield have?
- Attended high school in Oakville and Milton
- 15 years old - earned glider pilot licence as a member of Royal Canadian Cadets
- Joined Canadian Armed Forces 1978 - earned engineering degree at Royal Military College
- Military - learned to fly various types of aircrafts
- Became test pilot - flew several experimental planes
- Was in exchange program with United States Navy and United States Air Force - obtained master's degree in aviation systems at University of Tennessee Space Institute
- Spent 2 years at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia
- Followed up - two more years at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario - earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering - 1982
- 1980's - trained and worked as fighter pilot for Canadian and American forces
When did Chris Hadfield travel to Space?
- November 1995
- Flew as mission specialist
- Flew in space aboard STS-74
- During mission - visited Russian space station Mir
2. Flew again on STS-100
- April 2001
- Visited International Space Station (ISS)
- Walked in space helped to install Canadarm 2
3. December 2012(5 month stay)
- Flew for third time aboard Soyuz TMA-07M
- Joined Expedition 34 on ISS
- Member of expedition until March 2013
- Became commander of ISS - part of Expedition 35
- Commander for crew of five astronauts - helped to run dozens of scientific experiments dealing with impact of low gravity on human biology
What are his Main Contributions to Space?
- Helped to install Canadarm 2
- Ran dozens of scientific experiments dealing with impact of low gravity on human biology
Interesting Facts & Other Information
- First Canadian to Walk in Space
- Engineer and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot
- Flown two space shuttle missions
- Served as commander of International Space Station
- After being commander in Space - ended 35-year career as a military pilot and astronaut
- Was a ski instructor at Glen Eden Ski Area before becoming test pilot
- Became global celebrity - through Twitter feed while aboard International Space Station in 2013
- Dreamed of becoming astronaut - native Canada offered no astronaut program to pursue
- Chris Hadfield has played his guitar in Space