Chris Hadfield

Chris Hadfield is a Canadian astronaut, engineer, and former commander of the International Space Station, known for communicating the experience of spaceflight to the public.

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STS-74: A 1995 Space Shuttle mission that docked with Russia’s Mir space station. Hadfield’s first spaceflight brought him to Mir as a mission specialist.
Chris Austin Hadfield: A Canadian astronaut and engineer who served as commander of the International Space Station. This is Hadfield’s full name and the same person covered by this page.
Astronaut training: Preparation in science, spacecraft systems, survival, and teamwork for human spaceflight. Hadfield’s career required years of training before he could operate and command spacecraft.
Science communication: The practice of making scientific knowledge understandable and useful to public audiences. Hadfield translated everyday station routines and technical work into accessible public explanations.
Astronaut: A person trained to travel and work in spacecraft. Hadfield’s astronaut role spans mission operations, engineering, and public communication.
STS-100: A 2001 Space Shuttle mission that delivered the Canadarm2 robotic arm to the International Space Station. Hadfield performed two spacewalks during the mission to install Canadarm2.
Canadian Space Agency: Canada’s national agency for space science, technology, and exploration. Hadfield joined its astronaut corps and became one of Canada’s most visible spaceflight figures.
Extravehicular activity: Work performed by astronauts outside a spacecraft while wearing a spacesuit. Hadfield’s spacewalks depended on the procedures and life-support systems of extravehicular activity.
Social media in space: The use of online social platforms by astronauts to share information and experiences from orbit. Hadfield’s posts and photographs made social media a prominent channel for life aboard the station.
NASA astronaut corps: The group of astronauts selected and trained by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Hadfield trained and flew with NASA, while remaining a Canadian Space Agency astronaut.