The Most Interesting And Badass Man In Canada
mexico1973
Published
09/30/2015
Canada's most interesting man, Cmdr. Chris Hadfield
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Cmdr. Chris Hadfield as it turns out is the most badass Canadian and here’s why: -
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Using a Swiss Army Knife, he broke into the Russian space station. The Russian space station Mir is now inoperative. Although, in 1995, during Hadfield’s first space voyage, he had to break into Mir. Apparently the Russian engineers went a little overboard when sealing the docking hatch. Pulling out his trusty Swiss Army Knife, Hadfield cut through the tape and straps. He successfully broke into Mir and became the only Canadian to dock with the Russian space station during flight. -
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People have rehearsed his death…while he watched. NASA calls it a contingency sim, but everyone else knows it by the more literal, “death sim.” Hadfield’s crew-mates sit around a table and role-play a scenario where Cmdr. Hadfield is injured on the ISS. They draw cards that have random events written on them, changing the scenario. One may say that Hadfield has died. The astronauts then discuss what to do with the body while in space, how to inform his family and devise a plan to deal with the media. This all happened with Hadfield sitting in on the conversation. He called the experience, “weirdly uplifting.” Okay, Chris. -
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He did his first spacewalk blind! An EVA is what NASA calls an extravehicular activity and Hadfield’s mission was to install Canadarm2. During the walk, his eyes began watering due to left over residue of the anti-fog detergent astronauts use to polish their helmet visors. Since tears need gravity to fall and you can’t wipe your face in a spacesuit, Hadfield was essentially blinded by his own tears. NASA was about to call off the mission until Hadfield vigorously shook his head clearing the tears. He regained his sight and became the first Canadian to complete a spacewalk mission. -
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He knows how to pilot a submarine. Yeah, Hadfield knows how to drive a DeepWorker submarine. This one-man sub is currently used to explore under the sea. However, it may one day be comparable to the vehicles used to collect samples from the moon, Mars or an asteroid. -
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That’s him on the $5 bill. While on the International Space Station, Hadfield unveiled the new $5 bill. -
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The note features the Canadarm 2, DEXTRE the satellite-fixing robot, and an image of Hadfield during his 2001 spacewalk. -
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Hadfield speaks Russian and pees on buses. From 2001 to 2003, Hadfield was NASA’s director of operations in Russia. Besides learning the language, he learned how to power drink like a Russian and adhere to local customs. Apparently it’s customary for astronauts to pee the right rear tire of the bus that drives them to the launch pad. This tradition was allegedly started by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. -
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Commander Easter Bunny While commanding the ISS, Hadfield put on a surprise Easter Egg hunt for his crewmates – clogging all of the instruments and freeing the ant queen. I made that last bit up. Ah, The Simpson’s. -
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He’s more popular on Twitter than the Queen of England. Cmdr. Chris Hadfield is quite active on the Twitter machine. His @cmdr_hadfield is currently at 1.44 millions followers compared to the British monarchy’s 1.32 million. During his time on the ISS, he gained around 950,000 followers. -
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He’s more popular on Twitter than the Queen of England. Not one or two, there are THREE schools named after him. Schools in Bradford, Brooklin and Milton, Ontario have been named in Hadfield’s honour. -
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The Puck Drop from Outer space With the help of some Maple Leaf legends, Hadfield did a puck drop from outer space. -
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The video is definitely worth a watch. Even just to see a floating puck. Watch it HERE. -
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Hadfield is also a die-hard Leafs fan. In 2013, for the first time in over 8 years, the Leafs made the playoffs against the Boston Bruins. Hadfield was enroute home from the ISS and missed what happened in game 7. -
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On his voyage to Earth, Hadfield wore a Leafs t-shirt instead of the regulation NASA undershirt. After a safe landing, the first call he made was to his wife. He wanted to know how the Leafs did against the Bruins. She had to break it to him that, in usual Toronto fashion, they blew it. -
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Space Oddity isn’t the only space themed song he knows. Hadfield created the first ever music video in space with his rendition of David Bowie’s song Space Oddity. Chris had his son Evan re-write the lyrics about the astronaut dying. What you may not know is years ago Chris also learned the song, Rocket Man by Elton John. He did so in hopes of one day meeting Elton for a jam session. They met. No song. We need to fix this! Until then, enjoy his cover of Space Oddity.
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