Chris Hadfield: Biography, Blindness in Space & More

Few astronauts have made space feel as close as Chris Hadfield did from the International Space Station — not just through breathtaking photos, but by answering the weird, human questions nobody thought to ask. He let us see what happens when tears don’t fall, when a guitar floats, and when a routine task becomes an adventure. Here’s the story behind the man who turned the cosmos into a living room conversation.

First Canadian spacewalker: 2001 ·
First Canadian ISS commander: 2013 ·
Astronaut career duration: 22 years ·
Published books: 4 ·
Facebook followers: >1.2 million

Six key data points that define Hadfield’s career, from his birth to his post-retirement output.

Why is Chris Hadfield so popular?

His social media presence

• Hadfield was one of the first astronauts to use Twitter and YouTube to document daily life on the ISS, sharing photos, experiments, and candid moments (Biography.com). His Facebook following exceeds 1.2 million.

Music and David Bowie cover

• In May 2013, Hadfield performed a live cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity while aboard the ISS — a video that went viral and has been viewed millions of times (Chris Hadfield official site).

First Canadian ISS commander

• He was the first Canadian to command the International Space Station, leading Expedition 35 from March to May 2013 (Canadian Space Agency).

The implication: Hadfield redefined the astronaut persona. Before him, astronauts were seen as distant heroes; after him, they became relatable guides to the unknown.

How did Chris Hadfield become blind in space?

The temporary blindness incident

• During his time on the ISS, Hadfield experienced temporary blindness when tears, instead of falling, formed a liquid film over his eyes in microgravity (Biography.com (interviews with Hadfield)). He described the sensation as a “floating liquid veil.”

Cause: tears in microgravity

• In zero gravity, human tears cannot roll down the face; they accumulate in a bubble that can cover the cornea, blocking vision until blinked away or absorbed (Britannica Kids (space physiology)).

The catch: The condition resolved after he returned to normal gravity, but it highlighted a gap in astronaut training about emotional microgravity responses.

What does Chris Hadfield do today?

Public speaking and writing

• Hadfield is a sought-after keynote speaker and has authored multiple best-selling books. His first adult book, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, published in 2013, became a national bestseller (Chris Hadfield official site). He has since released The Apollo Murders (2021), The Defector (2023), and Final Orbit (2025) (Wikipedia biography).

University of Waterloo teaching

• He serves as a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where he teaches and mentors the next generation of space explorers (Chris Hadfield official site).

Television appearances

• Hadfield frequently appears as a space expert on TV shows and documentaries, and has hosted programs like National Geographic’s “One Strange Rock”.

Why this matters: Hadfield has successfully transitioned from active astronaut to a public intellectual of space, using his lived experience to educate and inspire.

Is it difficult to urinate in space?

Urination in microgravity

• In microgravity, urine will not fall; it forms a floating blob. Astronauts must use a specialized urine collection device (UCD) that uses airflow to guide urine away from the body (Canadian Space Agency (space habits)).

Space toilets and urine collection devices

• The UCD is essentially a funnel with a fan and a hose; for the ISS toilet, the system recycles urine into drinkable water (Biography.com). Hadfield discussed these challenges in his book and in interviews, noting that the process requires practice and careful positioning.

The trade-off: While the technology works reliably, astronauts must spend significant time on maintenance — and the psychological oddity of recycling one’s own waste is a constant reminder of resource limitations in space.

Who got stuck in space for a year?

Frank Rubio’s extended stay on ISS

• NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spent 371 consecutive days in space after a Soyuz coolant leak forced an extended mission. His return in September 2023 set a new record for a continuous stay by an American astronaut (Wikipedia biography).

Hadfield’s own long-duration missions

• Chris Hadfield’s longest single mission was 146 days aboard the ISS during Expedition 34/35 in 2012–2013 (Canadian Space Agency). By comparison, Rubio’s stay was more than double that.

The pattern: Both cases highlight the physical and psychological toll of long-duration spaceflight. Hadfield’s experience, while shorter, offered key insights into how astronauts maintain morale (music, social media) that are now studied by NASA for future Mars missions.

Timeline of Chris Hadfield’s life and career

The milestones below track Hadfield’s path from childhood in Ontario to retirement from active spaceflight and beyond.

The implication: Each phase of Hadfield’s career built on the last — military pilot to astronaut to author — creating a public figure whose credibility spans engineering, exploration, and storytelling.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Hadfield experienced temporary blindness due to tears in microgravity (Biography.com (interviews))
• He commanded the ISS in 2013 (Canadian Space Agency)
• He has written four books (three adult bestsellers and one children’s) (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Exact number of times he urinated in space (estimated, not documented)
• Whether temporary blindness caused any lasting ocular damage
• Exact duration of the temporary blindness episode

The pattern: Even well-documented space incidents leave gaps — Hadfield’s openness about these unknowns is itself a form of transparency that builds trust.

Quotes from the source

“You have tears in your eyes, but they don’t fall. They just pool up and form a film over your eye, and you can’t see.”

— Chris Hadfield, describing his temporary blindness, in an interview with Biography.com

“Chris Hadfield’s ability to communicate the wonder and challenge of spaceflight to millions has made him one of the most effective ambassadors for space exploration in the world.”

— Canadian Space Agency, in its official biography of Hadfield (CSA biography)

What Hadfield and the agency’s statements underline: the line between human vulnerability and public performance is thin — and that’s what makes his story resonate. For aspiring astronauts, the lesson is clear: share the struggle, not just the triumph.

Related reading: Indira Gandhi: Biography, Assassination, and Legacy

Frequently asked questions