All About Chris Hadfield: Bio, Honors, and Books

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has been referred to as “the most famous astronaut since Neil Armstrong.” Colonel Chris Hadfield is a worldwide sensation whose music video of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”—seen by over 75 million people online—was called “possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created,” by Bowie himself. Acclaimed for making outer space accessible to millions, Colonel Hadfield continues to bring the marvels of science and space exploration to everyone he encounters.

In 1992, he was assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and became NASA’s Chief CapCom for twenty-five space shuttle missions. Colonel Hadfield was selected as a NASA Mission Specialist, and three years later he was aboard the Shuttle Atlantis, where he helped build the Mir space station. In 2001, on the Shuttle Endeavour, Colonel Hadfield performed two spacewalks; in 2013, he became Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) for six months off planet.

Additionally, he released his musical album, Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can, in 2015, and was featured on TED for his talk, “What I Learned From Going Blind in Space.” He also co-hosted, with actor Will Smith, the National Geographic series One Strange Rock, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Currently, Colonel Hadfield can be seen as the co-creator and host of the internationally acclaimed BBC series Astronauts. Colonel Hadfield is also the producer of the celebrated Rare Earth series on YouTube, and the creator of the onstage celebration Generator, which combines science, comedy, and music for sold-out audiences. Additionally, Colonel Hadfield is an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo.

Aside from being the first Canadian to walk in space, Chris is a heavily decorated astronaut, engineer, and pilot. Colonel Hadfield’s many awards include:

• Liethen-Tittle Award (1988): This award is given to the top pilot graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. Chris was named the Top Test Pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy (1991).
• Order of Ontario (1996): The highest-honor award in Canada, the Order of Ontario is given to individuals who achieves a high level of excellence.
• The Meritorious Service Cross (2001 and 2013): Chris received medals for both the military (2001) and civilian (2013) categories of this medal, which is given to those who demonstrate meritorious acts.
• The NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2002): This medal for exceptional service is given to members of NASA who contribute to the progress and improvement of the organization.
• Golden Jubilee Medal (2003): This award was established by Queen Elizabeth II and is bestowed upon any nominee who demonstrates a large contribution to public life.
• Aviation Hall of Fame (2005): Chris was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
• Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012): The Diamond Jubilee Medal is given to exceptional Canadians who have contributed significantly to society.
• Shorty Award for Best in Science (2013): This award is given to individuals for unique and interesting content, and Chris won it in 2013 for his promotion of space and science with his videos.
• The Order of Canada (2014): Established by Queen Elizabeth II, this award is the second-highest honor for merit, bestowed upon those who demonstrate outstanding service to Canada.

Colonel Hadfield is the author of three internationally best-selling books:

1. 1. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (2013): This book details Chris’s time and training as an astronaut, detailing stories of his experiences as well as sharing anecdotes and passages of self-help.
2. 2. You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes (2014): This book of photographs takes the reader on a planetary tour, showing the view of Earth from space and providing commentary on both the forces that shape our world and the consequences of our actions.
3. 3. The Darkest Dark (2016): Co-authored with Kate Fillion, this children’s book uses Chris’s childhood and experiences as inspiration, crafting a story about a space-loving child who is afraid of the dark—until he watches the moon landing on TV.

Produced by Chris and starring his son, Evan, this YouTube series explores different parts of the world and some of the unique stories or ideas that are found in those places (such as the town train in Hanoi, Vietnam, or the Chichijima incident off the coast of Japan). The show aims to educate people beyond not just beyond what they know, but their comfort zones. The series offers viewers a glimpse into the world outside of their own in the hopes of revealing little-known truths that deserve to be heard.

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