Category Archives: Space Station

Ring UFO Seen Near ISS (Space Station) On Live Cam March 9, 2013, 9:30 am Asia Time.
Date of sighting: March 9, 2013 at 9:30 am (Taiwan Time) Location of sighting: Earths Orbit at ISS Best view of ring UFO at 1:26 sec into video. I sat down a...

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Ring UFO Seen Near ISS (Space Station) On Live Cam March 9, 2013, 9:30 am Asia Time. - Video

Astronaut Scott Kelly Selected for One-Year Mission Aboard International Space Station
TWO PICKED FOR YEAR-LONG STAY ON ISS -- JSC Astronaut Scott Kelly has been selected by NASA to begin a one-year mission aboard the International Space Statio...

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International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA Part 1
International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA. International Space Station Tour. Astronaut Mike Fincke gives people a tour of the International Space Stati...

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International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA Part 1 - Video

International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA Part 2
International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA. This is International Space Station Tour of ISS by NASA. NASA takes people on a tour of the ISS with help fr...

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Chris Hadfield knows it's easy to be in charge when things are going well.

It's a lot tougher to be a leader when they are not.

But the astronaut who becomes the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station this afternoon has done everything he can for the past 20 years to be ready for what he sees as the pinnacle of his career.

"I think the hardest part is being ready all the time for things to go badly because when things are going well, it's easy to be in charge," the 53-year-old told students via videolink from the ISS to Chris Hadfield Public School in his hometown of Milton, Ont., earlier this year.

Maybe a meteorite might strike the $150-billion high-tech orbiting laboratory. Maybe a fire might break out. Maybe a crisis might hit a crewmember's family back on Earth and he can't get home right away. These are the kinds of eventualities a commander has to be prepared for.

Hadfield's two decades as an astronaut have been geared toward an assignment like this. But his preparation probably started even earlier.

"In truth, I started training to command the space station when I was 14," he told University of Waterloo students via videolink from the ISS last month.

"I was in the Air Cadets and I went to a junior leaders' course and they taught me the basic precepts of leadership at 14 years old as a young Canadian, and since then I've watched leaders, and you can learn something from every leader."

Even bad leaders can teach lessons to those below them, and Hadfield said he's learned from all kinds.

"I've also, through the military and then in my 20 years as an astronaut, been given increasing opportunities to manage and to lead people, and that all put me in a position where I could get assigned to command a spaceship," he told the students.

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Prepped 'for years,' Chris Hadfield takes over space station command

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, Mar. 12, 2013 5:12PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2013 4:59AM EDT

MONTREAL -- For the first time in the history of the International Space Station, a Canadian will take charge of the giant orbiting space lab.

The transfer of command to space veteran Chris Hadfield will be marked Wednesday by the simple ringing of a ceremonial bell.

He is almost three months into his five-month space visit.

Since his arrival on Dec. 21, 2012, the Canadian space veteran has been taking spectacular photos of the world beneath him and posting them on Twitter. Hadfield's colourful, detailed images have received international attention and helped him gain over 500,000 Twitter followers.

Another recent photo showed an apple with Velcro on the bottom which, Hadfield explained, allowed him to set it down between bites.

But the 53-year-old spaceman may have to cut down on the amount of time he has devoted to his nascent photography career.

The transfer of command to Hadfield, and the start of what's officially designated "Expedition 35," will happen at 5:10 p.m. ET.

Hadfield takes over the top job in outer space from NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, the station's 34th commander.

Former Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk is confident his old colleague will do a good job. Thirsk spent six months on the station in 2009 -- a record stay for a Canadian. One of Canada's first six original astronauts, he retired in August 2012.

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Hadfield takes command of International Space Station tomorrow

Astronaut Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station this afternoon, when he officially took the reins of the orbiting laboratory.

Outgoing NASA Commander Kevin Ford, who has held the role since November 2012, passed responsibility for the Station to Hadfield during a transfer-of-command ceremony at 5:10 p.m. ET.

Expedition 34 will end tomorrow when Ford and his crewmates undock from the Station.

"[Hadfield] has a vision for [Expedition] 35. He knows what's going to happen," Ford said from the ISS. "He's really a people person. He's out there, he shares things with everybody. He's a uniquely talented person on the planet and he's now a uniquely talented person off the planet."

Hadfield arrived at the Station in December, where he has been conducting experiments and sharing his experiences on social media.

Ford played the Canadian national anthem before ceding control, pointing out that Hadfield would be the first Canadian commander of the ISS. He will also be the first commander who is neither from NASA nor the Russian Federal Space Agency.

"We're very proud of Chris. We're very proud of Canada as our partner in this International Space Station," Ford said. "Canada has made a great contribution, just like so many of the other [international] partners have."

Hadfield spoke briefly before officially accepting command. "It's a huge honour and a privilege for mebut also [for] all my co-workers at the Canadian Space Agency and my entire country."

Hadfield will run the Station along with five other crew members. He'll return to Earth in mid-May.

The Queen congratulated Hadfield earlier 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," she said in a statement.

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Chris Hadfield takes command of International Space Station

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, Mar. 12, 2013 5:12PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2013 4:59AM EDT

MONTREAL -- For the first time in the history of the International Space Station, a Canadian will take charge of the giant orbiting space lab.

The transfer of command to space veteran Chris Hadfield will be marked Wednesday by the simple ringing of a ceremonial bell.

He is almost three months into his five-month space visit.

Since his arrival on Dec. 21, 2012, the Canadian space veteran has been taking spectacular photos of the world beneath him and posting them on Twitter. Hadfield's colourful, detailed images have received international attention and helped him gain over 500,000 Twitter followers.

Another recent photo showed an apple with Velcro on the bottom which, Hadfield explained, allowed him to set it down between bites.

But the 53-year-old spaceman may have to cut down on the amount of time he has devoted to his nascent photography career.

The transfer of command to Hadfield, and the start of what's officially designated "Expedition 35," will happen at 5:10 p.m. ET.

Hadfield takes over the top job in outer space from NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, the station's 34th commander.

Former Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk is confident his old colleague will do a good job. Thirsk spent six months on the station in 2009 -- a record stay for a Canadian. One of Canada's first six original astronauts, he retired in August 2012.

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Hadfield takes command of International Space Station Wednesday

LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Mar 13, 2013) - Today, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), celebrated a historic milestone in Canadian space exploration as Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station.

"My heartfelt congratulations to Commander Hadfield and his family on what is an important milestone for all Canadians" said Minister Paradis. "Our Government will continue to be a proud and committed partner in the International Space Station and ensure our space sector continues to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."

During the change of command ceremony with his predecessor Commander Kevin Ford (NASA), Hadfield spoke of his pride in representing Canada and commanding the world''s space science laboratory. During his command, he will oversee station operations, including over 100 scientific experiments, and be responsible for the safety of the crew and the station.

"The Canadian Space Agency congratulates Commander Hadfield for this exceptional career achievement. It is the result of years of dedication and hard work," stated Gilles Leclerc, CSA Acting President. "The appointment also recognizes Canada''s contribution to the International Space Station program the teams on the ground who support space operations and the advanced robust robotics that have built the Station."

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield launched to the Station on December 19, 2012 and will stay aboard until May 13, 2013, when he is due to return to Earth in a Soyuz capsule. He is the second national outside of the US and Russia to command the station and its crew.

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Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield-First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station

For the first time in history, a Canadian has taken charge of a space mission.

Chris Hadfield, an astronaut since 1992 with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), took command of the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday (March 13), assuming the lead of the orbiting outpost's 35th expedition crew.

"It is a huge honor and a privilege to me but also for all the people at the Canadian Space Agency ... and for my entire country," Hadfield said from on board the station during a change of command ceremony.

"So, for the International Space Station Program, all the international partners, thank you very much for giving me the keys to the 'family car.' We're going to put some miles on it but we'll bring it back in good shape," he said. [See astronaut Chris Hadfield's amazing space photos]

Hadfield, who is approaching his 100th day on the space station since launching in December, took over command from NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, who led Expedition 34. Ford and cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin are set to leave the space station to return to Earth aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on Thursday evening (March 14).

"We're very proud of Chris," Ford remarked, after playing a recording of the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada," in Hadfield's honor. "We are very proud of Canada as our partner in this International Space Station. We are really proud most of all that the space station is such a fantastic example of international cooperation."

Canada is one of 15 partner nations that comprise the International Space Station program. As a part of its contribution to the complex, the Canadian Space Agency provided the orbital laboratory's robotic arm, the Canadarm2, as well as a two-armed robot named Dextre, which is also used to move and manipulate items outside the station.

Hadfield, along with NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and cosmonaut Roman Romanenko are scheduled to stay on the space station through May. They will be joined later this month by three new Expedition 35 crew members, including Chris Cassidy of NASA and cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov and Aleksandr Misurkin, both with Roscosmos.

This is not the first time that Chris Hadfield has made Canadian history. In addition to his new role as the first Canadian space commander, Hadfield earlier set the record as the first Canadian to walk in space in 2001 and was the first of his countrymen to visit the International Space Station on that same mission 12 years ago.

"He's a uniquely talented person on the planet and now a uniquely talented person off the planet," said Ford.

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Canada in Charge: Astronaut Becomes 1st Canadian Space Station Commander