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Chris Hadfield

@Cmdr_Hadfield • 2,129,569 subscribers

Astronaut, back on Earth after 3 spaceflights. For events and media, please write to [email protected] Order books at https://t.co/Y7p3sa0MX3

Shorts

The largest nuclear bomb in outer space exploded 64 yrs ago today. Starfish Prime was a 1.4 megaton thermonuclear warhead, detonated at the altitude the Space Station now orbits. It created man-made radiation belts that wrecked many satellites & lasted 5+ years. A year after the test the USA & USSR signed the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, leading to the global 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The largest nuclear bomb in outer space exploded 64 yrs ago today. Starfish Prime was a 1.4 megaton thermonuclear warhead, detonated at the altitude the Space Station now orbits. It created man-made radiation belts that wrecked many satellites & lasted 5+ years. A year after the test the USA & USSR signed the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, leading to the global 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

2,315,143 views

Pilots say airplanes fly as good as they look. The Italians only built one Caproni Stipa. It was so stable it was hard to turn, and slow - the extra efficiency of the ducted propellor was cancelled out by all the bulbous drag. My question is - what did the guy in the back seat do?

Pilots say airplanes fly as good as they look. The Italians only built one Caproni Stipa. It was so stable it was hard to turn, and slow - the extra efficiency of the ducted propellor was cancelled out by all the bulbous drag. My question is - what did the guy in the back seat do?

380,537 views

This is a wild moment inside the cockpit, just 2 minutes after leaving Florida. At 150,000 feet, the sky has gone from light blue to black, and the ride on the huge, solid rockets has been violent, jamming us up through the air. Suddenly there's a blast of pyrotechnics. Even though we're going Mach 5, the air is so thin the explosion arches out in front of the windows. Now being pushed by just the 3 Shuttle engines, the ride goes smooth, with a huge feeling of relief - getting rid of those solids means you're much safer, and halfway to orbit. I've done it twice, Atlantis and Endeavour. A great start to an amazing adventure.

This is a wild moment inside the cockpit, just 2 minutes after leaving Florida. At 150,000 feet, the sky has gone from light blue to black, and the ride on the huge, solid rockets has been violent, jamming us up through the air. Suddenly there's a blast of pyrotechnics. Even though we're going Mach 5, the air is so thin the explosion arches out in front of the windows. Now being pushed by just the 3 Shuttle engines, the ride goes smooth, with a huge feeling of relief - getting rid of those solids means you're much safer, and halfway to orbit. I've done it twice, Atlantis and Endeavour. A great start to an amazing adventure.

1,396,777 views

There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that The Boeing Company Starliner is now making.

There are several noises I'd prefer not to hear inside my spaceship, including this one that The Boeing Company Starliner is now making.

3,434,027 views

Our planet's airplane traffic this week - a new record. Over 153,000 commercial flights/day - that's almost 2 takeoffs & landings per second. No accidents - amazing! Beautiful work by ICAO in Montreal, under the United Nations. They should manage space traffic as well. Let's bump their max altitude from 60,000 ft to 600 miles.

Our planet's airplane traffic this week - a new record. Over 153,000 commercial flights/day - that's almost 2 takeoffs & landings per second. No accidents - amazing! Beautiful work by ICAO in Montreal, under the United Nations. They should manage space traffic as well. Let's bump their max altitude from 60,000 ft to 600 miles.

108,793 views

Before I was an astronaut I was a test pilot, finding new ways to recover an F-18 after it went out of control. We learned a lot & made flying safer - but good to have an ejection seat, just in case.

Before I was an astronaut I was a test pilot, finding new ways to recover an F-18 after it went out of control. We learned a lot & made flying safer - but good to have an ejection seat, just in case.

727,092 views

Cecilia Chirenti & her team discovered this pair of spinning neutron stars smashing into each other, forming a single massive star, then collapsing into a black hole. The sound is gravitational waves. (from old NASA satellite data)

Cecilia Chirenti & her team discovered this pair of spinning neutron stars smashing into each other, forming a single massive star, then collapsing into a black hole. The sound is gravitational waves. (from old NASA satellite data)

1,754,544 views

How do rockets work? Sometimes I teach at university, and everybody likes a live demo. A fire extinguisher is just a small rocket nozzle; a chair & cart make a good spaceship. Folks ask how it works in space with no air to push against? But it's the mass blasting out that makes me roll. Doesn't need any backstop. Newton's 2nd law. But always good to have a landing plan - thanks University of Waterloo students!

How do rockets work? Sometimes I teach at university, and everybody likes a live demo. A fire extinguisher is just a small rocket nozzle; a chair & cart make a good spaceship. Folks ask how it works in space with no air to push against? But it's the mass blasting out that makes me roll. Doesn't need any backstop. Newton's 2nd law. But always good to have a landing plan - thanks University of Waterloo students!

266,551 views

Comparing how fast the planets spin, and which way they point. Jupiter rips, Venus is a slowpoke! (great graphic by Dr. James O'Donoghue Dr James O'Donoghue!)

Comparing how fast the planets spin, and which way they point. Jupiter rips, Venus is a slowpoke! (great graphic by Dr. James O'Donoghue Dr James O'Donoghue!)

587,688 views

Venus and Jupiter over Toronto. The reflected light from Venus (the brighter of the 2) took 10 minutes to get here. From Jupiter - 50 minutes. A rare chance to visualise our turning Earth and ever-moving solar system above the iconic city skyline. Gorgeous timelapse by friend Andrew Yee, from Ward's Island. #Toronto #FIFAWorldCup

Venus and Jupiter over Toronto. The reflected light from Venus (the brighter of the 2) took 10 minutes to get here. From Jupiter - 50 minutes. A rare chance to visualise our turning Earth and ever-moving solar system above the iconic city skyline. Gorgeous timelapse by friend Andrew Yee, from Ward's Island. #Toronto #FIFAWorldCup

76,331 views

This huge, peanut-shaped asteroid whizzed past the Earth 2 weeks ago. It's over 1100'/350m long. Glad it missed us! details: radar image: NASA DSN Goldstone

This huge, peanut-shaped asteroid whizzed past the Earth 2 weeks ago. It's over 1100'/350m long. Glad it missed us! details: radar image: NASA DSN Goldstone

487,376 views

Waterfalls mesmerize me. The roar and spray and power of snow and rainfall relentlessly returning to the sea. Grinding solid rock into gravel and sand. Nature at work. (at Rheinfels)

Waterfalls mesmerize me. The roar and spray and power of snow and rainfall relentlessly returning to the sea. Grinding solid rock into gravel and sand. Nature at work. (at Rheinfels)

67,625 views

Wow! Like the universe just showed us a secret.

Wow! Like the universe just showed us a secret.

570,835 views

A HUGE day for Team Canada in Houston today! The mission is clear - have a GREAT game and WIN this round! FIFA World Cup

A HUGE day for Team Canada in Houston today! The mission is clear - have a GREAT game and WIN this round! FIFA World Cup

48,845 views

China just landed a probe on the far side of the Moon - this time nearer the south pole, to gather volcanic samples using a scoop and drill, and blast them back to Earth. They've partnered with Sweden, France and Italy. Proving the tech needed to land Chinese astronauts by 2030.

China just landed a probe on the far side of the Moon - this time nearer the south pole, to gather volcanic samples using a scoop and drill, and blast them back to Earth. They've partnered with Sweden, France and Italy. Proving the tech needed to land Chinese astronauts by 2030.

390,089 views

Superb work by the pilots and their air traffic controllers, dealing with a backfiring engine on takeoff. Heavy plane full of fuel, low cloud thunderstorms, repeated compressor stalls. Calm, competent, professional - well done! Details: Air Canada

Superb work by the pilots and their air traffic controllers, dealing with a backfiring engine on takeoff. Heavy plane full of fuel, low cloud thunderstorms, repeated compressor stalls. Calm, competent, professional - well done! Details: Air Canada

363,052 views

Testing the next gen lunar surface space suit. It's easy to climb into (through the back), has good mobility, the gloves work fine. We were evaluating the interfaces with the Astrolab rover - launching to the Moon later this year. Great to see and experience the new legacy of the Axiom Space suit in their Houston test rig.

Testing the next gen lunar surface space suit. It's easy to climb into (through the back), has good mobility, the gloves work fine. We were evaluating the interfaces with the Astrolab rover - launching to the Moon later this year. Great to see and experience the new legacy of the Axiom Space suit in their Houston test rig.

59,313 views

Amazing view of yesterday's Starship test. Volume up. SpaceX

Amazing view of yesterday's Starship test. Volume up. SpaceX

473,299 views

The best way to simulate weightlessness is to train underwater, in NASA's 40-ft deep Houston pool. The safety divers attach weights/foam to our spacesuits so the buoyancy is perfectly neutral, even when upside down or sideways. It's an art. When I got to orbit for my spacewalks, the years of preparation made it feel familiar; a good way to be for such a dangerous, amazing, otherworldy experience.

The best way to simulate weightlessness is to train underwater, in NASA's 40-ft deep Houston pool. The safety divers attach weights/foam to our spacesuits so the buoyancy is perfectly neutral, even when upside down or sideways. It's an art. When I got to orbit for my spacewalks, the years of preparation made it feel familiar; a good way to be for such a dangerous, amazing, otherworldy experience.

84,825 views

Flying the world's largest centrifuge. When manually piloting a space capsule back into Earth's atmosphere, it's easy to get to 8 times the force of gravity. In this 18m behemoth trainer, you feel the real forces as you maneuver. A well-flown reentry is about 4G, ballistic backup mode is 8 or 9G. The all-time worst was 21.3G during the Soyuz 18a launch abort - but they survived:

Flying the world's largest centrifuge. When manually piloting a space capsule back into Earth's atmosphere, it's easy to get to 8 times the force of gravity. In this 18m behemoth trainer, you feel the real forces as you maneuver. A well-flown reentry is about 4G, ballistic backup mode is 8 or 9G. The all-time worst was 21.3G during the Soyuz 18a launch abort - but they survived:

55,915 views

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China has stated their astronauts will be walking on the Moon by 2030 - they just revealed their new suit.
1:04
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China has stated their astronauts will be walking on the Moon by 2030 - they just revealed their new suit.

Chris Hadfield

20,347,360 views • 1 year ago

Making the seat that kept me alive. The artisans pour gypsum around my body, wait for it to dry, haul me out, and then sculpt a perfect mold of my butt. That mold is used to shape a polyurethane foam seat liner, covered in fire-resistant blue fabric. Comfy and supportive when we smack violently back into the world. Don't leave Earth without one.
0:40
Cmdr_Hadfield's profile picture

Making the seat that kept me alive. The artisans pour gypsum around my body, wait for it to dry, haul me out, and then sculpt a perfect mold of my butt. That mold is used to shape a polyurethane foam seat liner, covered in fire-resistant blue fabric. Comfy and supportive when we smack violently back into the world. Don't leave Earth without one.

Chris Hadfield

875,902 views • 3 months ago

Amazing to see how well this spaceship survived. First-ever soft splashdown that left Starship intact & floating, allowing close-up inspection of the heat shield tiles after the wicked heat of reentry. Onwards to catch it next time - congrats to the whole team SpaceX !
0:35
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Amazing to see how well this spaceship survived. First-ever soft splashdown that left Starship intact & floating, allowing close-up inspection of the heat shield tiles after the wicked heat of reentry. Onwards to catch it next time - congrats to the whole team SpaceX !

Chris Hadfield

298,113 views • 1 month ago

Amazing to watch launch umbilical cords retract in the nick of time. Rockets need to stay connected to their launch pad right to the last second, for fuel/gases, data and power. But the hot blast from the engines would cook the plumbing parts. So they unplug, run away and hide in a safe room, slamming the door behind them. Ready to be used again. (full video Scott Manley)
0:20
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Amazing to watch launch umbilical cords retract in the nick of time. Rockets need to stay connected to their launch pad right to the last second, for fuel/gases, data and power. But the hot blast from the engines would cook the plumbing parts. So they unplug, run away and hide in a safe room, slamming the door behind them. Ready to be used again. (full video Scott Manley)

Chris Hadfield

114,212 views • 17 days ago

Successful new way to catch a reusable rocket. Despite the black smoke pouring out the top, a cross-grid of wires on a barge snagged China's Long March 10B for the first time. Saves having to lift the weight of landing gear.
0:25
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Successful new way to catch a reusable rocket. Despite the black smoke pouring out the top, a cross-grid of wires on a barge snagged China's Long March 10B for the first time. Saves having to lift the weight of landing gear.

Chris Hadfield

301,687 views • 1 month ago

Imagine being on a spacewalk experiencing this. The upper tendrils of Earth's aurora reach high enough that we fly right through them. I felt so small, floating between our planet & the universe, surrounded by this, as we start to permanently leave home. Filmed by Adenot Sophie of European Space Agency through the windows of the International Space Station last week.
0:53
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Imagine being on a spacewalk experiencing this. The upper tendrils of Earth's aurora reach high enough that we fly right through them. I felt so small, floating between our planet & the universe, surrounded by this, as we start to permanently leave home. Filmed by Adenot Sophie of European Space Agency through the windows of the International Space Station last week.

Chris Hadfield

191,022 views • 2 months ago

This is what landing on the Moon looks like - so many potholes to avoid! Note the 2 descent pauses to let the cameras find a flat spot, before success. Well done ISRO!
0:22
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This is what landing on the Moon looks like - so many potholes to avoid! Note the 2 descent pauses to let the cameras find a flat spot, before success. Well done ISRO!

Chris Hadfield

2,923,687 views • 3 years ago

Test Piloting: how to recover an out-of-control F-18. On the right is my cockpit view, with all displayed info. Took about 30 seconds, fell 2 miles. I described the sensations real-time. Ejection seat as a backup plan. We did well over 100 of these, learning, changing the pilot procedures & airplane software to make it forever safer. Royal Canadian Air Force U.S. Navy
0:29
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Test Piloting: how to recover an out-of-control F-18. On the right is my cockpit view, with all displayed info. Took about 30 seconds, fell 2 miles. I described the sensations real-time. Ejection seat as a backup plan. We did well over 100 of these, learning, changing the pilot procedures & airplane software to make it forever safer. Royal Canadian Air Force U.S. Navy

Chris Hadfield

97,618 views • 1 month ago

The beautiful artistry of pushing engineering to its limits. ⁦Starship hot staging ⁦SpaceX⁩.
0:38
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The beautiful artistry of pushing engineering to its limits. ⁦Starship hot staging ⁦SpaceX⁩.

Chris Hadfield

1,389,187 views • 1 year ago

Artemis re-entry, seen from the International Space Station! Very cool: the sen camera mounted on ISS caught sunglint off the returning lunar Orion capsule "Integrity" just as it was entering Earth's atmosphere. We live in an amazing world and time. ISS streaming:
0:29
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Artemis re-entry, seen from the International Space Station! Very cool: the sen camera mounted on ISS caught sunglint off the returning lunar Orion capsule "Integrity" just as it was entering Earth's atmosphere. We live in an amazing world and time. ISS streaming:

Chris Hadfield

262,022 views • 4 months ago

Two weeks at the bottom of the sea. As part of astronaut training we lived in Aquarius, 60 feet down, off the Florida Keys. We simulated Mars ops with a 30-minute time lag on all communications, so we sent videos to mission control. A great place to simulate Moon/Mars gravity for spacewalks, using weights and water buoyancy. Also for learning the forced, beautiful isolation of life on a space station. (featuring Dr. Steve Chappel and Tom Marshburn)
1:05
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Two weeks at the bottom of the sea. As part of astronaut training we lived in Aquarius, 60 feet down, off the Florida Keys. We simulated Mars ops with a 30-minute time lag on all communications, so we sent videos to mission control. A great place to simulate Moon/Mars gravity for spacewalks, using weights and water buoyancy. Also for learning the forced, beautiful isolation of life on a space station. (featuring Dr. Steve Chappel and Tom Marshburn)

Chris Hadfield

158,107 views • 3 months ago

Space walk glove - beautiful engineering. Protects us from the deadly vacuum of space and the wild temperature swings, while letting us feel what we're grabbing. In training I could pick up a dime off the pool floor. They twist and lock into place at the end of the spacesuit sleeves.
0:34
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Space walk glove - beautiful engineering. Protects us from the deadly vacuum of space and the wild temperature swings, while letting us feel what we're grabbing. In training I could pick up a dime off the pool floor. They twist and lock into place at the end of the spacesuit sleeves.

Chris Hadfield

91,972 views • 2 months ago

UK speaking tour starts Sunday! So many cool & fun space things to talk about, plus Q&A, music - an inspiring, memorable evening for all ages. Dublin too! Most shows nearly sold out:
0:26
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UK speaking tour starts Sunday! So many cool & fun space things to talk about, plus Q&A, music - an inspiring, memorable evening for all ages. Dublin too! Most shows nearly sold out:

Chris Hadfield

417,431 views • 1 year ago

Very good to see Suni & Butch's ride home, safely docked to the Space Station now for the next 6 months. So much work to do up there. Well done SpaceX & NASA. 4K video: sen
0:23
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Very good to see Suni & Butch's ride home, safely docked to the Space Station now for the next 6 months. So much work to do up there. Well done SpaceX & NASA. 4K video: sen

Chris Hadfield

595,802 views • 1 year ago

Here's the "In Canada" song that brother Dave, son Evan and I made a few years ago, along with a cast of dozens. The girl who climbs up on the dock at 3:53 just got married here at the cottage - can't get more Canadian than that!
4:56
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Here's the "In Canada" song that brother Dave, son Evan and I made a few years ago, along with a cast of dozens. The girl who climbs up on the dock at 3:53 just got married here at the cottage - can't get more Canadian than that!

Chris Hadfield

67,836 views • 2 months ago

Jet takeoff in formation. Flying these NASA T-38N jets was huge fun, as well as great crew preparation for spaceflight: complex systems, emergencies, discipline, communications, 3D maneuvering, navigation, unforgiving operations. You can see the detonation cord to shatter the canopy above our heads in case we have to eject. During my 21 years as an astronaut I logged about 1500 T-38 hours, front & backseat. video: Don Pettit
0:53
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Jet takeoff in formation. Flying these NASA T-38N jets was huge fun, as well as great crew preparation for spaceflight: complex systems, emergencies, discipline, communications, 3D maneuvering, navigation, unforgiving operations. You can see the detonation cord to shatter the canopy above our heads in case we have to eject. During my 21 years as an astronaut I logged about 1500 T-38 hours, front & backseat. video: Don Pettit

Chris Hadfield

61,277 views • 2 months ago

For those who feel SpaceX's Starship test flight didn't go well, here are the very first flights of the F-14 and F-16. The test pilots survived.
0:29
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For those who feel SpaceX's Starship test flight didn't go well, here are the very first flights of the F-14 and F-16. The test pilots survived.

Chris Hadfield

896,181 views • 3 years ago

Weightless fingernail trimming - bits go everywhere! So we cut them over a fan filter intake and vacuum them up when done (keeps someone from inadvertently breathing them, floating around). Note the velcro on the clippers, for 0G storage. And the loud ambient sound of living inside a spaceship.
0:46
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Weightless fingernail trimming - bits go everywhere! So we cut them over a fan filter intake and vacuum them up when done (keeps someone from inadvertently breathing them, floating around). Note the velcro on the clippers, for 0G storage. And the loud ambient sound of living inside a spaceship.

Chris Hadfield

102,102 views • 3 months ago

A biggish asteroid may hit Earth just before Christmas in 7 years. We'll know soon, when NASA Webb Telescope tracks it next month. Then we'd need to decide how best to deflect it. My full interview: LBC
0:27
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A biggish asteroid may hit Earth just before Christmas in 7 years. We'll know soon, when NASA Webb Telescope tracks it next month. Then we'd need to decide how best to deflect it. My full interview: LBC

Chris Hadfield

361,633 views • 1 year ago