Chris Hadfield
First Canadian to walk in space and command the ISS.
Chris Hadfield was born on August 29, 1959, in Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up on a corn farm near Milton. As a nine-year-old, watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing on TV sparked his ambition to become an astronaut. He attended high school in Oakville and Milton, earning his glider pilot license through the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at 15 and a powered pilot license at 16. After enlisting in the Canadian Armed Forces, he studied at Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, graduating with a mechanical engineering degree in 1982. He also did postgraduate research at the University of Waterloo that same year.
Hadfield spent 25 years as a fighter pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces. He trained on the CF-116 and CF-18, and was the first CF-18 pilot to intercept a Soviet Tu-95 bomber in the Canadian Arctic. In 1988, he graduated top of his class from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, winning the Liethen-Tittle Award. As an exchange officer with the U.S. Navy, he tested the F/A-18 and A-7 Corsair II, worked with NASA on pitch control simulations, and flew the first military test of F/A-18 enhanced performance engines. He earned a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1992, writing his thesis on high-angle attack aerodynamics of the F/A-18. Over his career, he flew more than 70 different aircraft types.
Selected from over 5,300 applicants in June 1992, Hadfield became one of four new Canadian astronauts. He reported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he worked on Shuttle Operations Development, helped design the glass cockpit for the shuttle, and supported launches at Kennedy Space Center. He also served as NASA’s chief CAPCOM. His first spaceflight came in November 1995 as a mission specialist on STS-74, which docked with the Russian space station Mir. In April 2001, he flew on STS-100, visiting the International Space Station and performing a spacewalk to help install Canadarm2—the first such walk by a Canadian. In December 2012, he launched aboard Soyuz TMA-07M for Expedition 34. When that mission ended in March 2013, he became commander of the ISS for Expedition 35, overseeing a crew of five and running experiments on how low gravity affects human biology. During this stay, he gained wide attention by posting Earth photos on social media, appearing on TV news and talk s
- born
- August 29, 1959
- field
- Astronautics, military aviation
- nationality
- Canadian
- known_for
- First Canadian to walk in space; commander of the International Space Station
Lore & Background
Chris Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario, and raised on a corn farm in Southern Ontario. He became interested in flying at a young age and decided to become an astronaut at age nine after watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing on television. He attended high school in Oakville and Milton, Ontario, and earned a glider pilot license as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. After enlisting in the Canadian Armed Forces, he earned an engineering degree at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, and later a master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute.
Hadfield served 25 years as a fighter pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces, flying intercept missions for NORAD and becoming the first CF-18 pilot to intercept a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 bomber in the Canadian Arctic. He graduated as the Distinguished Graduate from the US Air Force Test Pilot School and later tested various aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet and A-7 Corsair II. In 1992, he was selected as a Canadian astronaut from over 5,300 applicants.
He first flew in space in November 1995 as a mission specialist on STS-74, visiting the Russian space station Mir. In April 2001, on STS-100, he performed a spacewalk to help install Canadarm2. In December 2012, he launched aboard Soyuz TMA-07M to join Expedition 34, and in March 2013 became commander of the ISS for Expedition 35. During this mission, he chronicled life onboard by posting pictures on social media and playing the ISS's guitar. He returned to Earth in May 2013 and retired shortly after.
Reader's Guide
Chris Hadfield's significance lies in his role as a pioneer for Canadian space exploration. As the first Canadian to walk in space and to command the International Space Station, he demonstrated Canada's capability in human spaceflight. His military background as a test pilot and fighter pilot provided the technical expertise necessary for his astronaut career. During his final mission, he used social media to share the experience of living in space, making spaceflight more accessible to the public. His retirement after 35 years as a military pilot and astronaut capped a career that included flying over 70 different aircraft types and contributing to numerous scientific experiments on the ISS. He has since published several books, including the New York Times bestseller 'An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.'
Did You Know?
- Hadfield was the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit and the only Canadian ever to board the Russian space station Mir.
- He was the first CF-18 pilot to intercept a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 long-range bomber in the Canadian Arctic.
- He earned his glider pilot license at age 15 as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
- He served as NASA's chief CAPCOM for 25 Space Shuttle missions.
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