TORONTO – At approximately 5:10 p.m. ET Wednesday, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will take control of the International Space Station (ISS), for the transition from the 34th to 35th ISS mission.
The 53-year-old Sarnia native boarded the ISS for the second time on December 12, 2012. Hadfield will remain in command until he returns on May 14, 2013.
Here are some interesting facts about the first Canadian ISS commander:
1) He’s set pretty much every Canadian space record held by a man
Hadfield has set a number of space records preceded by “The first Canadian to…” In 1995, he was the first Canadian and only Canadian to dock with the Russian Mir Space Station during flight STS-74. In April 2001, he was the first Canadian to board the International Space Station (STS-100).
2) He’s more popular than the British monarchy
An avid Twitter user, @cmdr_hadfield has more followers than the British monarchy.
On that note, here’s a message Queen Elizabeth sent Hadfield on Wednesday:
“I am pleased to transmit my personal best wishes, and those of all Canadians, to Colonel Christopher Hadfield as he takes command of the International Space Station on Wednesday. Our thoughts and best wishes are with him and the entire crew, as are our prayers for an eventual safe return to family, friends and fellow Canadians.” – Queen Elizabeth II
3) His resume includes “installing a robot arm in space”
During a his first trip to the ISS in 2001, Hadfield fulfilled two science fiction fantasies by transporting and installing the Canadarm2 robotic arm aboard the station. Using the arm to obtain supplies and perform repairs will be one of his primary duties during his current mission.
4) He tweets pictures of food that are actually interesting
Hadfield’s pictures of floating oranges and apples convey how even the simplest earthly pleasures (like eating eating an apple) require ingenuous measures to be enjoyed in space. (In this case, Velcro!)
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