| Chris Austin Hadfield | |
|---|---|
| CSA Astronaut | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Status | Active |
| Born | August 29, 1959 Sarnia, Ontario |
| Other occupation | Test pilot |
| Rank | Colonel, RCAF |
| Time in space | 20d 02h 02m |
| Selection | 1992 CSA Group |
| Total EVAs | 2 |
| Total EVA time | 14 hours 50 minutes |
| Missions | STS-74, STS-100 |
| Mission insignia | |
Chris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD (born 29 August 1959) is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) expeditions. He is currently training for a long duration stay on board the ISS, which will include command of Expedition 35 in 2012–13. He will be the first Canadian to command the ISS.[1] He is enthusiastic about the prospects for a manned mission to Mars, and when asked if he would consider a one-way journey to Mars to be the first to visit, he said "I would be honoured to be given the opportunity." [2]
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Chris Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario. His parents are Roger and Eleanor Hadfield who currently reside in Milton, Ontario. Hadfield was raised on a corn farm in southern Ontario and became interested in flying at a young age - from his own words in the interview to STRF.RU, he came to the idea of being astronaut when he was nine on the day of Apollo Lunar landing, which he had seen on TV then. Hadfield is married to his high school sweetheart, Helene Hadfield, and they have three adult children together.
Chris graduated as an Ontario Scholar from Milton District High School in 1977. After graduating from high school he went on to earn a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1982. Hadfield conducted post-graduate research on aviation systems at the University of Tennessee in 1993.
Chris Hadfield is the recipient of numerous awards and special honours. These include the 1988 Liethen-Tittle Award (top pilot graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School) and U.S. Navy Test Pilot of the Year (1991). He received an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the Royal Military College (1996). Hadfield is a member of the Order of Ontario (1996). He also received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Trent University (1999). Chris has also received Vanier Award (2001), Meritorious Service Cross (2001), NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2002) and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2003). He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame (2005) and Commemorated on Royal Canadian Mint silver and gold coins for his spacewalk to install Canadarm2 on the International Space Station (2001).
As an Air Cadet, he earned a glider pilot scholarship at age 15 and a powered pilot scholarship at age 16.
His affiliations include the Royal Military College Club, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, honorary patron of Lambton College, trustee of Lakefield College School, Board member of the International Space School Foundation, executive with the Association of Space Explorers.
Sarnia Airport was renamed in his honour in 1997.[3]
Hadfield joined the Canadian Forces in May 1978. He spent two years at Royal Roads Military College, in Victoria, British Columbia followed by two years at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario where he received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (with honors) in 1982. Hadfield underwent basic flight training for the Royal Canadian Air Force at CFB Portage La Prairie in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba for which he was named top pilot in 1980. In 1983, he took honors as the overall top graduate from Basic Jet Training at CFB Moose Jaw in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and in 1984-1985, he trained as a fighter pilot at CFB Cold Lake in Cold Lake, Alberta on CF-5s and CF-18s.
For the next 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 Tupolev Tu 95 "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 U. S. 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.
Chris Hadfield was selected to become one of four new Canadian astronauts from a field of 5,330 applicants in June 1992. Three of those 4 (Dafydd Williams, Julie Payette and Hadfield) have flown in space. Hadfield 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.[4]
Chris Hadfield was the Director of Operations for NASA at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia from 2001 until 2003. Some of his duties 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.
Hadfield is a civilian CSA astronaut, having retired as a Colonel from the Canadian Air Force in 2003 after 25 years of military service. He was Chief of Robotics for the NASA Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas from 2003–2006 and was Chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006–2008. In 2008 and 2009, Hadfield trained as a back-up to Robert Thirsk on the Expedition 21 mission.[5] In May 2010, Hadfield served as the commander of the NEEMO 14 mission aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory, living and working underwater for fourteen days.[6][7] NASA has announced that Hadfield will become the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station, leading Expedition 35, when he blasts off in December 2012.[8]
Chris Hadfield served as Mission Specialist 1 on STS-74 in November 1995. It was 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 to operate the Canadarm in orbit, and the only Canadian to ever board Mir.[4]
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, 50 minutes outside, traveling 10 times around the world during his spacewalk.[9]
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