THE NUTS+BOLTS OF
ORBITAL LEFT: CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD IS IN ENDEAVOUR’S FLIGHT DECK AREA AS THE SHUTTLE STEADILY MAKES ITS WAY TOWARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON APRIL 20, 2001. CREDIT NASA
The Canadian highlights NASA’s recent progress on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a large, infraredoptimized space telescope developed by NASA. Due to launch in seven years, the telescope will search for the first galaxies that formed in the early Universe, hopefully connecting the Big Bang—the prevailing cosmological theory of the early development of the universe—to our own Milky Way galaxy. The Webb will have the capacity to see stars forming planets, connecting the galaxy to our own Solar System. In doing so, we will begin to understand stars in detail using powerful electromagnetic spectrum.
Now he is preparing for his next challenge: Expedition 34/35, due to launch from Kazakhstan November 2012. This will be Hadfield’s longest mission, affording him the opportunity to become Commander of the ISS. His team is using virtual reality simulators, putting on gloves and helmets to “see” and “feel” space. The Canadian visualizes hypotheticals, horrible events on earth, and reviews individual reactions while discussing solutions with his crew. Feeling the weight of responsibility, he is keeping his crew healthy, mentally stable, and proud, saying that he is “recognizing our differences and making sure we stay together.” After his long run of space missions, the Canadian would like to settle for a teaching post. The curriculum would
MECHANICS ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD OCCUPIES SPACE
include subjects such as space walking through design and atmospheric physics. In the future, he also hopes to engage in public speaking at conferences and universities to bring his rare human experience for the next line of eager young students of aeronautics and aspiring astronauts. He would like to publish a collection of notes he made during his missions, offering technical suggestions for the next astronaut struggling to manoeuvre a space ship’s hardware and software jumble. Hadfield often reminisces on his journeys outside our atmosphere, and among stories of space travel and beautiful views he returns to one particular lamentation: He misses playing guitar with crewmates
HIS ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR A MANNED MISSION TO MARS, LEAVES HADFIELD DREAMING OF AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD HONOUR HIM YET AGAIN AS AN OVER-ACHIEVING CANADIAN SPACE MAN.
Like all astronauts, Hadfield is curious about life on Mars. Historically Mars has had ice water, and recently running water, which would indicate that a living organism can survive on the planet. His enthusiasm about the prospects for a manned mission to Mars, leaves Hadfield dreaming of an opportunity that would honour him yet again as an over-achieving Canadian space man. ABOVE, LEFT: THE DRAG CHUTE ON SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR SLOWS THE SPACECRAFT DOWN DURING THE LANDING AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA AND THE COMPLETION OF MISSION STS-100. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED AT 1:11 P.M. (PDT), MAY 1, 2001, WITH SIX ASTRONAUTS ABOARD, INCLUDING CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD AND A COSMONAUT REPRESENTING ROSAVIAKOSMOS. CREDIT NASA
ABOVE, RIGHT: CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD ARRIVING WITH COSMONAUT YURI LONCHAKOV AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ON APRIL 16, 2001. THEY WILL BOTH BE MISSION SPECIALISTS ON STS-100. CREDIT NASA
THE MOTORIZED ISSUE
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