Chris Austin Hadfield is a Canadian retired astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot, musician, and writer. Born on August 29, 1959, he became the first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in outer space. Hadfield has flown two Space Shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS). Prior to his astronaut career, he served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 25 years as an Air Command fighter pilot.

Career and Achievements: As a child, Hadfield was inspired by Apollo 11's moon landing. He attended high school in Oakville and Milton in southern Ontario and earned his glider pilot licence with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Later, he earned an engineering degree at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, and a master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute. He became a test pilot through a U.S. Navy and Air Force exchange program.

In 1992, Hadfield joined the Canadian astronaut program. He first flew to space in November 1995 as a mission specialist aboard STS-74 to the Russian space station Mir. In April 2001, he flew on STS-100 to the ISS, performing a spacewalk to help install Canadarm2. In December 2012, he joined Expedition 34 on the ISS, becoming its commander with Expedition 35 in March 2013. During this mission, he conducted experiments on low gravity's impact on human biology and gained popularity for his social media presence and playing guitar in space. He retired after returning to Earth in May 2013.

Hadfield is known for his rendition of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, recorded aboard the ISS. He has published five books, including the bestseller, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth." He is also the co-creator and host of BBC's "Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?" and co-host of National Geographic's "One Strange Rock." Hadfield serves as an adjunct professor, adviser to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, and Chair of the Open Lunar Foundation.

In 2023, Hadfield was asked to advise King Charles III on space sustainability. His musical album, "Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can," is the first recorded off-planet.