A CANADIAN astronaut who posted a cover online of David Bowie’s Space Oddity from the International Space Station (ISS) has enthralled Scots schoolchildren on terra firma with his space tales.
Commander Chris Hadfield, who is famous for playing guitar in space, had posted his rendition of the late singer’s song on Facebook.
He spoke to first and second year pupils from Glasgow and the surrounding area at the Glasgow Science Centre yesterday.
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The Canadian astronaut gave a 45-minute presentation and 15-minute question and answer session where he spoke about his journey to becoming an astronaut to being chosen as one of the first astronauts of Canadian Space Agency.
He then treated students to detailed account about his days aboard the ISS and landing back on Earth.
Commander Hadfield, who was raised on a farm in southern Ontario, was inspired as a child by the Apollo 11 Moon landing on TV in July, 1969. The former Canadian air force pilot has been flying on space missions since 1995 when he was a member of the team with the Russian-US Mir-Space Shuttle Atlantis docking in space.
Yesterday’s free event was aimed at inspiring the students to study Stem (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects, and pursuing Stem careers.
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Commander Hadfield’s visit to Glasgow will be followed up by that of fellow astronaut Major Tim Peake on Sunday.
The Briton spent six months living and working on the ISS after launching from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last December.
He returned from the successful operation in June and is taking part in a tour of the UK.
During Sunday’s event at the Imax cinema at the science centre, which sold out within 23 minutes of tickets going on sale, Major Peake will give his first-hand account about life on-board the ISS during his six-month Principia mission.
Major Peake, from Chichester, Sussex, described his stint orbiting the Earth as “the ride of my life”.
During his 186 days on board with other international astronauts, the former helicopter test pilot and 44-year-old father of two participated in more than 250 scientific experiments, performed a space walk, ran the London Marathon on a treadmill and inspired more than a million schoolchildren with educational activities.
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As part of his mission, Major Peake ran science experiments for researchers from all over the planet, including trying to grow blood vessels and protein crystals, and using a furnace to melt and cool metal alloys as they floated in mid-air.
The astronaut wants his mission to inspire people, especially children, to develop their interest in science and to learn more about career opportunities.
Sunday’s event will also be live-streamed on screens outside the Clydeside auditorium.
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