Canada’s most well-known astronaut reached royal realms on Thursday (Feb. 9).
King Charles III met with Chris Hadfield, the retired Canadian astronaut finest identified for commanding the International Space Station (ISS) in 2012-13 with social media aptitude. The dialogue involved “efforts to encourage sustainability in space,” the official Royal Family Twitter account (opens in new tab) acknowledged.
“What a pleasure and privilege to be requested to advise and help, and make the King chortle,” Hadfield wrote of the expertise on Twitter (opens in new tab), alongside an image exhibiting His Majesty trying amused.
Specifics of the dialog haven’t but been shared, however “sustainability” may discuss with coping with issues akin to space debris, the light pollution affecting our evening sky, or general environmental issues raised by rocket launches, for instance. King Charles III is a famous environmentalist, notably looking for to deal with issues like climate change, in line with our sister publication Country Life (opens in new tab).
Associated: Life in space: Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s video guide
Hadfield was a fighter pilot with expertise flying sorties for NORAD (the North American Aerospace Protection Command) earlier than becoming a member of the Canadian House Company in 1992. He retired from the Canadian Air Power as a colonel in 2003 after 25 years of service.
Hadfield flew thrice in space throughout his 21 years as an astronaut. He was the one Canadian to go to Russia’s Mir space station, doing so in November 1995. He additionally was the first-ever Canadian to spacewalk, which occurred throughout the set up of the robotic Canadarm2 on the ISS in April 2001.
Hadfield’s extravehicular crewmate in 2001, NASA’s Scott Parazynski, was named an “honorary Canadian” throughout one sortie with Hadfield wherein the Canadian anthem was played in space (opens in new tab). By the way, Hadfield acquired yet another orbital rendition of “O Canada” (opens in new tab) when he assumed command of the space station in 2013.
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Throughout Hadfield’s ISS command, he ran the most scientifically productive space station tour of the period. He additionally spent his spare time singing David Bowie’s “House Odyssey” on digicam and sharing movies and images on social media of on a regular basis space life, partaking tens of millions of viewers worldwide.
Behind the scenes, Hadfield was chief capcom (communicator) with the space shuttle on 25 missions, and between 2001 and 2003 was the director of operations for NASA at Russia’s cosmonaut coaching heart close to Moscow. He retired as an astronaut in 2013.
All of this expertise acquired consideration from a senior Canadian official dwelling abroad: “Chris can present a powerful perspective,” tweeted (opens in new tab) Ralph Goodale, Canada’s excessive commissioner in the UK.
Associated: 12 highlights of Chris Hadfield’s high-flying career
🧑🚀🇨🇦 Canadian astronaut and former Commander of the Worldwide House Station, Chris Hadfield, as we speak met The King at Buckingham Palace to debate efforts to encourage sustainability in space. pic.twitter.com/PCFCpIEBhfFebruary 9, 2023
What a pleasure and privilege to be requested to advise and help. And make the King chortle 🙂 https://t.co/3dGxNLCkUJ pic.twitter.com/DH9dgkq9t9February 9, 2023
At Buckingham Palace, 🇨🇦 Astronaut Chris Hadfield visits with King Charles about sustainability in space. Chris can present a powerful perspective – he has flown 2 House Shuttle missions and served as Commander of the Worldwide House Station. All the time glad to have him in London! pic.twitter.com/sM8kThqfqsFebruary 9, 2023
Hadfield’s missions had introduced him to royal consideration lengthy earlier than his assembly with the king.
Hadfield received (opens in new tab) the Order of Canada in 2014 “for his dedication to selling scientific discovery and for sharing the wonders of space exploration with the world.” The order is awarded by the royal consultant in Canada, known as the governor common, who was then David Johnston.
Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years till her demise on Sept. 8, 2022, additionally sent personal congratulations to Hadfield when he took cost of the ISS on March 13, 2013. “I’m happy to transmit my private finest needs, and people of all Canadians,” Her Majesty’s message stated partly. “Our ideas and finest needs are with him and all the crew.”
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Hadfield was the primary citizen of a Commonwealth nation to take management of the space station. The Commonwealth is a bunch of 56 international locations “with historic hyperlinks to the UK” in line with Global Affairs Canada (opens in new tab). Beforehand, these international locations had connections with the now-disbanded British Empire.
Canada’s ties with the U.Ok. are longstanding and deep; the parliamentary authorities system in Canada is predicated upon that of the U.Ok., for instance. However colonialism by England and different international locations in what’s now known as Canada, beginning within the 1600s, brought about huge upheaval; Indigenous peoples had been dwelling within the space for 1000’s of years earlier than the colonists arrived.
Residential faculties, illness, demise and maltreatment are among the many issues that the government-supported Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (opens in new tab) sought to deal with in years of labor, culminating in a large report in 2015. Canadian governments have been looking for methods to push “reconciliation” ahead within the years since; not all Indigenous peoples agree with the method or proposed restitutions, nevertheless.
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why Am I Taller (opens in new tab)?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a e book about space drugs. Comply with her on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Facebook (opens in new tab).
