By Robert T. Gonzalez from io9.com:
So long, Commander Hadfield – and thanks for all the awesome!
Tonight at 7:08 ET, Commander Chris Hadfield – one of the most charismatic Commanders in the history of the International Space Station – will return … Read…
Chris Hadfield – Canadian astronaut (the first to ever serve as Commander of the International Space Station), space-musician (the first to record a music video in space), social media powerhouse, inspirational whirlwind and professional blower-of-minds – is retiring.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Canadian Space Agency’s headquarters, Hadfield told a standing-room only audience: “I’m making good on a promise I made to [my] wife nearly 30 years ago — that yes, eventually, we would be moving back to Canada.” His retirement is effective July 3rd.
“To say goodbye to these good people today,” Hadfield later tweeted, in reference to the crowd of CSA employees gathered to see him off, “was much harder than I expected”:
“I’ve had such an interesting career and after 35 years it’s time to step down,” Commander Hadfield was quoted as saying by the CBC. “I’m the last astronaut of my class that’s still around.”
“Chris Hadfield has inspired all Canadians, especially our next-generation of scientists and engineers,” Chris Alexander, parliamentary secretary for defense, said in a statement.
“His exceptional career achievements make him a true Canadian hero and icon.”
Hear, hear.
We wish Hadfield all the best – and while we know we shouldn’t expect him to maintain his impressive social media presence, we’re optimistic that he’ll stick around in some capacity. On a related note, we hope that more astronauts, moving forward, will take a page or two from Hadfield’s playbook when it comes to engaging with the public about science and space.
When Hadfield returned to Earth from the ISS in May, we put together a roundup of our favorite moments from his time aboard humanity’s orbital outpost. In light of his impending retirement, it seems fitting to post it here again. So long, Commander Hadfield – and, as always, thanks for all the awesome.
All images via NASA
