Chris Hadfield

Early life

Born in the city of Sarnia, Ontario, to parents Roger and Eleanor Hadfield, Chris Hadfield was raised on a corn farm. After watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on television, a young Chris Hadfield became fascinated with aeronautics and astronautics, an interest he held throughout his life, guiding his educational and career choices.

At age 15, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, eventually earning a glider pilot scholarship. Hadfield attended White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario until his senior year when he transferred to Milton District High School, graduating with the distinction of Ontario Scholar. He then signed up with the Canadian Armed Forces, spending two years at Royal Roads Military College followed by two years at the Royal Military College of Canada, where he received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with honours. Before graduating, he underwent basic flight training. He went on to conduct post-graduate research at the University of Waterloo and earn a Master’s in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute.

In 1981, Chris Hadfield married his high-school girlfriend Helene Hadfield (née Walter), with whom he has three children.

Career

Chris Hadfield began his career as a fighter pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces, flying CF‑18 jets for NORAD and becoming the first Canadian to intercept a Soviet bomber in Canadian airspace. In 1988, he graduated as top test pilot from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He would later work with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on experimental flight programs, flying more than 70 types of aircraft.

In 1992, Hadfield was selected from a pool of many qualified applicants to join the Canadian Space Agency as an astronaut. After completing specialized training, his first spaceflight came in 1995 on Space Shuttle Atlantis, where he helped dock with the Russian space station Mir. He was the first Canadian to do so. In 2001, he flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, performing two spacewalks, and in the process, becoming the first Canadian to walk in space. Also on this mission, he assisted with the installation of Canadarm2 on the International Space Station.

Between missions, Hadfield served in several senior roles at NASA, including Director of Operations in Russia and Chief of Robotics. In 2012, he embarked on a five-month mission aboard the ISS, during which he became the first Canadian commander of the station in 2013. As the mission progressed, he gained public prominence for sharing science, music, and life in orbit through social media and videos transmitted back to Earth—most famously a cover of David Bowie’s stellar-themed hit ‘Space Oddity’, which he recorded in zero gravity. The video of Hadfield performing that song became a media phenomenon, eventually achieving over 50 million views. He also partially recorded Songs From a Tin Can, a musical album, while on the ISS. Hadfield retired from the space program upon returning to Earth in July 2013.

Since the mid-2010s, Chris Hadfield has built a successful second career as an author and public speaker. He has written several bestselling books, including An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, The Darkest Dark, and The Apollo Murders. He has also spent portions of his post-astronaut career teaching courses at the University of Waterloo, as well as narrating documentaries, and delivering keynote speeches to audiences around the world about science, exploration, leadership, and resilience.

Net Worth

Information about Chris Hadfield’s net worth is not currently available to the public.