Our three big emergencies are fire, loss of pressurization or contaminated atmosphere. Any of those things in a spaceship are very deadly and time critical. Everybody's trained, but I'm the commander of the ship, and it's up to me to… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Nothing focuses your mind quite like flying a jet. That's one reason NASA requires that astronauts fly T-38s: it forces us to concentrate and prioritize in some of the same ways we need to in a rocket ship. — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Wow, that was a really good sleep. I feel great. Hmm, that sounds like someone on the radio; maybe I’m still dreaming. Weird—the guy… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?” — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“That’s how I approach just about everything. I spend my life getting ready to play “Rocket Man.” I picture the most demanding challenge; I… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Many people object to “wasting money in space” yet have no idea how much is actually spent on space exploration. The CSA’s budget, for… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Don't let life randomly kick you into the adult you don't want to become — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
The Soyuz craft weighs tons, and you're lying on the floor of it on your back. But the Russians do tell you, remember, before… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“They have the impression that between launches, we pretty much sit around in a waiting room in Houston trying to catch our breath before… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“If you’re an adrenaline junkie, I understand why you’d find that exciting. But I’m not, and I don’t. To me, the only good reason… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
I once made myself black out by pulling G too quickly while flying an F-18. Being unconscious in a single-seat airplane is not good.… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
