Background

Chris Austin Hadfield was born on August 29, 1959, in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, to Roger and Eleanor Hadfield. Raised on a farm, Hadfield developed an early taste for adventure, and by his teens, he was already an accomplished skier. But flying was Hadfield's true passion.

Education

Chris Hadfield graduated as an Ontario Scholar from Milton District High School in 1977. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (with honors) from Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 1982. Hadfield also conducted post-graduate research at the University of Waterloo, Ontario from 1982 to 1983. In 1992 he received a Master of Science in aviation systems at the University of Tennessee.

Career

For three years, Hadfield flew CF-18s for the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) with 425 Squadron, during which time he flew the first CF-18 intercept of a Soviet "Bear" aircraft. He attended the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, in California, and upon graduation, served as an exchange officer with the United States Navy at Strike Test Directorate at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. His accomplishments from 1989 to 1992 included testing the F/A-18 and A-7 aircraft; performing research work with NASA on pitch control margin simulation and flight; completing the first military flight of F/A-18 enhanced performance engines; piloting the first flight test of the National Aerospace Plane external burning hydrogen propulsion engine; developing a new handling qualities rating scale for high angle-of-attack test; and participating in the F/A-18 out-of-control recovery test program. In total, Hadfield has flown over 70 different types of aircraft.

In June 1992, Chris Hadfield was selected to become one of four new Canadian astronauts from a field of 5330 applicants. He was assigned by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in August of the same year, where he addressed technical and safety issues for Shuttle Operations Development, contributed to the development of the glass shuttle cockpit, and supported shuttle launches at the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. In addition, Hadfield was NASA's Chief CapCom, the voice of mission control to astronauts in orbit, for 25 space shuttle missions. From 1996 to 2000, he represented CSA astronauts and coordinated their activities as the Chief Astronaut for the CSA.

From 2001 to 2003, Hadfield was the Director of Operations for NASA at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. His work included coordination and direction of all International Space Station crew activities in Russia, oversight of training and crew support staff, as well as policy negotiation with the Russian Space Program and other International Partners. He also trained and became fully qualified to be a flight engineer cosmonaut in the Soyuz TMA spacecraft and to perform spacewalks in the Russian Orlan spacesuit.

Space flights: In November 1995 Hadfield served as Mission Specialist 1 on STS-74, NASA's second space shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. During the flight, the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis attached a five-tonne docking module to Mir and transferred over 1,000 kg of food, water, and scientific supplies to the cosmonauts. Hadfield flew as the first Canadian mission specialist, the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit, and the only Canadian to ever board Mir.

In April 2001 Hadfield served as Mission Specialist 1 on STS-100 International Space Station (ISS) assembly Flight 6A. The crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour delivered and installed Canadarm2, the new Canadian-built robotic arm, as well as the Italian-made resupply module Raffaello. During the 11-day flight, Hadfield performed two spacewalks, which made him the first Canadian to ever leave a spacecraft and float freely in space. In total, Hadfield spent 14 hours, 54 minutes outside, traveling 10 times around the world.

From 2008 to 2009, Hadfield served as the backup for Dr. Bob Thirsk for Expedition 20/21, a long-duration spaceflight, training to live and work on board the ISS for a period up to six months. After this assignment, he supported the ISS Operations Branch and developed Emergency procedures for the ISS.

From May 10 to 23, 2010 Hadfield was the Commander of NEEMO 14, a NASA undersea mission to test exploration concepts living in an underwater facility off the Florida coast. NEEMO 14 used the ocean floor to simulate exploration missions to the surface of asteroids, moons, and Mars in order to gain a better understanding of how astronaut crews interact with equipment including advanced spacesuits, a lander, a rover, and robotic arms.

In June 2010, Hadfield was part of the Pavilion Lake research team, located 420 km northeast of Vancouver. Pavilion Lake is one of the few places on Earth where microbialites are found. The team used a combination of remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, SCUBA divers, and DeepWorker submersibles to help understand how the microbialites formed and possibly make it easier to identify potential forms of extraterrestrial life on future missions to Mars.

In September 2010, Chris Hadfield was assigned to Expedition 34/35. On December 19, 2012, he launched aboard the Russian Soyuz, enroute to becoming the second Canadian to take part in a long-duration spaceflight aboard the ISS. On March 13, 2013, he became the first Canadian to command a spaceship as Commander of the ISS during the second portion of his five-month stay in space. On May 13, Hadfield, Tom Marshburn, and Roman Romanenko landed in Kazakhstan after traveling almost 99.8 million kilometers while completing 2,336 orbits of Earth. The trio spent 146 days in space, 144 of which were aboard the station.

In June 2013, Chris Hadfield announced that he would retire from the CSA as of July 3, 2013, to take up new challenges. In 2013 he founded Chris Hadfield Inc.

In 2015, Hadfield was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was commemorated on Royal Canadian Mint silver and gold coins for his spacewalk to install Canadarm2 on the International Space Station.

Achievements

• After a distinguished career as a test pilot, Hadfield became an astronaut in 1992. Over the course of his career, he achieved a series of Canadian firsts: he was the first Canadian to be a space mission specialist, to operate the Canadarm in orbit, to do a spacewalk, and to command the International Space Station.
  
  Colonel Chris Hadfield's three missions to space showed people from all over the world what it is like to live in orbit. Through his accomplishments, his photographs, and his videos produced by the Canadian Space Agency, he inspired people, made them laugh, and taught them new things.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Darkest Dark

    (Inspired by the childhood of real-life astronaut Chris Ha...)

    2016
  • An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything

    (Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an a...)

    2013
  • You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes

    (Divided by continent, You Are Here represents one (ideali...)

    2014

• music

  • Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can 2015

Religion

Though Hadfield is not religious, he describes looking down on Earth from space as a spiritual experience that deepens people's beliefs, no matter what they are. In his case, he says that space confirmed his belief in the unity of the human race, that there is no "us and them."

Politics

Chris Hadfield says he's interested in politics but has no immediate plans to make it his next career. In an interview with The Canadian Press, he was asked whether he might use his newfound fame as a springboard into the political arena. "I'm as interested in politics as any Canadian, of course. That determines the fate of our country," Hadfield said Friday in an interview from Houston. "But for me personally, right now, I have no aspirations at all."

Views

Chris Hadfield believes people should treat Earth as kindly as they treat spacecraft.

Quotations: "To be able to command the space station, yes, it's professional, and yes, I'll take it seriously, and yes, it's important for Canada, but for me, as just a Canadian kid, it makes me want to shout and laugh and do cartwheels."

Membership

• Royal Military College Club

• 

  Society of Experimental Test Pilots

• 

  Board member

  Vintage Wings of Canada

• 

  President

  Association of Space Explorers

Personality

Chris Hadfield is known for his excellent communication skills, outgoing personality and infectious enthusiasm.

Interests

• Playing guitar, singing, writing

• Sport & Clubs

  Skiing, riding, running, volleyball, squash

• Music & Bands

  David Bowie

Connections

In 1981, Hadfield married Helene Hadfield (née Walter). They have three grown children: Kyle, Evan and Kristin.

Father:

Roger Hadfield

Mother:

Eleanor Hadfield

Spouse:

Helene Hadfield

(married 1981)

Son:

Kyle Hadfield

Son:

Evan Hadfield

Daughter:

Kristin Hadfield

colleague:

Robert Thirsk

Robert Thirsk is a Canadian engineer, physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut.

colleague:

Roman Romanenko

Roman Romanenko is a former Russian astronaut.

References

• Chris Hadfield on Twitter
• Chris Hadfield on LinkedIn