“An astronaut is someone who’s able to make good decisions quickly, with incomplete information, when the consequences really matter. I didn’t miraculously… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
There are no wishy-washy astronauts. You don't get up there by being uncaring and blase. And whatever gave you the sense of… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
It's a really big deal to do a spacewalk. It's much riskier than staying indoors. It's complex. It uses up a lot… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Square astronaut, round hole. But somehow, I'd managed to push myself through it, and here was the truly amazing part: along the… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
You can't just ignore spacewalking suit; it partially defines the experience. So maybe the most difficult thing is becoming completely attuned 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… — 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… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
The best simulator for spacewalking is underwater - it allows full visuals and body movement in 3D. Virtual reality is good, too,… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Astronauts have these qualities not because we’re smarter than everyone else (though let’s face it, you do need a certain amount of… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“When we finally head outside to walk toward the big silver Astro van that will take us to the launch pad, it’s… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Think about what happens on Earth when you throw up. You throw up and you have a bag of something horrible and… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Space flight alone doesn’t do the trick. These days, anyone who has deep enough pockets and good enough health can go to… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
And then finally, I'm the commander, so I am fundamentally responsible for the lives of the other people on board and the… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
In the astronaut business - the shuttle is a very complicated vehicle; it's the most complicated flying machine ever built. And in… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
You could look at something a hundred times from space, but the next time you come around the world, suddenly it's very… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it's starting a new business, whether it's leaving home, whether it's… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Our three big emergencies are fire, loss of pressurization or contaminated atmosphere. Any of those things in a spaceship are very deadly… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
When you're on one of the Caribbean islands, sometimes it's hard to picture how they fit in with the rest, but when… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Space exploration is inherently dangerous. If my focus ever wavers in the classroom or during an eight-hour simulation, I remind myself of… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
The world, when you look at it, it just can't be random. I mean, it's so different than the vast emptiness that… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Airline food is cooked in an oven and then kept warm. Space station food is often cooked in an oven and then… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
To be on my very first spacewalk, to be outside, and to have contamination in my suit to the point that I… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
It was remarkable to see from space how predictable people are. Our homes and towns are almost all in places with moderate… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Spacewalking trumps everything. Viscerally, it is a phenomenal place to be; to be able to glance right and see the world, glance… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
The rough and ready improvisational quality to life on board the International Space Station is reminiscent of a long trip in a… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
For the last several years and culminating in six months in orbit next year, I've been training for my third space flight.… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
Doing a space walk. It is one of the most rare human experiences. To leave your spaceship and go outside, so that… — 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… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
“Space flight participants, commonly known as space tourists, pay between $20 and $40 million each to leave Earth for 10 days or… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share Image
One place that I looked at a lot from space and which looks alluring is New Zealand, especially the North Island. It's… — 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
“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
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
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
“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
“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
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
“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
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
“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
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
“When you have some skills but don’t fully understand your environment, there is no way you can be a plus one.” — Chris Hadfield Copy Share
Anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them is actually the opposite of worrying: it's productive. — Chris Hadfield Copy Share
I think there are lots of ways to exercise ambition and accomplish things using leadership without going into elected politics. So, categorically, I have… — Chris Hadfield Copy Share
