This is Commander Chris to Ground Control
May 12, 2013 3:18 PM Subscribe
Today. the day after astronauts detected and repaired a "serious but not life-threatening" ammonia leak on the space station, Commander Chris Hadfield has passed over command of the space station. Planet earth is blue and there's nothing left to do ... except to release this video. Sorry, Tilda Swinton does not make an appearance. Video is suitable for all audiences. Hadfield previously on MeFi.
True fact: one of the astronauts who went on the spacewalk to fix the leak was named Tom. Yes, he made it back.
posted by maudlin at 3:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 3:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I wish we could arrange for everyone that meets him at landing to be dressed in ape costumes.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:26 PM on May 12, 2013 [50 favorites]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:26 PM on May 12, 2013 [50 favorites]
I wish we could arrange for everyone that meets him at landing to be dressed in ape costumes.
And when they remove their costumes … everyone is Tilda Swinton!
posted by kenko at 3:30 PM on May 12, 2013 [7 favorites]
And when they remove their costumes … everyone is Tilda Swinton!
posted by kenko at 3:30 PM on May 12, 2013 [7 favorites]
Hadfirld is a global treasure.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:31 PM on May 12, 2013 [13 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:31 PM on May 12, 2013 [13 favorites]
I would like to petition to have Don Petit, Hadfield and Coleman on station continuously, just doing the sort of stuff that they do. Their writing, music and general nerdery are the best advertisements for human space travel since Apollo.
posted by autopilot at 3:36 PM on May 12, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by autopilot at 3:36 PM on May 12, 2013 [11 favorites]
I'm kind of surprised they managed to get an acoustic guitar up there... relatively light, for sure, but the volume tradeoff seems a bit extreme, no?
Anyway, this video was fantastic, and Cdr Hadfield will be missed; the photos he's posted to Twitter (especially with their newest internet speed upgrades in play) have been completely awe-inspiring. I wonder if you ever tire of the view... I can't imagine that'd be the case. It's essentially the amalgamation of all of the best views possible, in perpetuity.
posted by disillusioned at 3:38 PM on May 12, 2013
Anyway, this video was fantastic, and Cdr Hadfield will be missed; the photos he's posted to Twitter (especially with their newest internet speed upgrades in play) have been completely awe-inspiring. I wonder if you ever tire of the view... I can't imagine that'd be the case. It's essentially the amalgamation of all of the best views possible, in perpetuity.
posted by disillusioned at 3:38 PM on May 12, 2013
Very, very cool video. I even don't hate that he's so heavily auto-tuned because it sort of works in this case. And I'll take it any day over the hot, cloying slice of awfulness he did with the Barenaked Ladies that the CBC plays incessantly.
The shot of his guitar hurtling through the cabin makes me scared for the inevitable crash into something, and a dented guitar.
Is it a space thing that he always sort of looks like the blood's rushing to his head? Like kind of puffy-eyed and vein-bulgey, sort of like if you take of picture of someone when they are upside down. I hadn't noticed it on anyone else. I don't know what he looks like on earth and I'm sort of stupid so I thought I'd ask.
posted by chococat at 3:44 PM on May 12, 2013
The shot of his guitar hurtling through the cabin makes me scared for the inevitable crash into something, and a dented guitar.
Is it a space thing that he always sort of looks like the blood's rushing to his head? Like kind of puffy-eyed and vein-bulgey, sort of like if you take of picture of someone when they are upside down. I hadn't noticed it on anyone else. I don't know what he looks like on earth and I'm sort of stupid so I thought I'd ask.
posted by chococat at 3:44 PM on May 12, 2013
The guitar only cost $1,800, plus $100,000 for shipping.
posted by autopilot at 3:47 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by autopilot at 3:47 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
Before I read the links, I'd thought he got fired for the leak, and was going to be sitting in a corner for a number of months
posted by angrycat at 3:50 PM on May 12, 2013
posted by angrycat at 3:50 PM on May 12, 2013
I confess, chococat, that as much as I truly admire Hadfield, I, too, really hate that last song he released with Ed Whatsisface. The CBC has been using it as a blunt weapon on just about every show they broadcast.
But I think his cover of Space Oddity is very nice on its own, even if it is auto-tuned, and the video really sells it.
Yes, his face probably looks different in space than on earth because of the shift in blood volume and other bodily fluids in a zero gravity environment. From Mary Roach's Packing for Mars: "[Your organs] migrate up under your ribcage, reducing your waistline in a way no diet can. One NASA researcher called it the Space Beauty Treatment. Without gravity, your hair has more body. Your breasts don't sag. More of your body fluid migrates to your head and plumps your crow's feet. Because blood volume sensors are in the upper body only, your system thinks you are retaining too much fluid and dumps 10 to 15 percent of your water weight. Then again, I have also heard it called Puffy-Face Chicken-Leg Syndrome."
posted by maudlin at 3:53 PM on May 12, 2013 [16 favorites]
But I think his cover of Space Oddity is very nice on its own, even if it is auto-tuned, and the video really sells it.
Yes, his face probably looks different in space than on earth because of the shift in blood volume and other bodily fluids in a zero gravity environment. From Mary Roach's Packing for Mars: "[Your organs] migrate up under your ribcage, reducing your waistline in a way no diet can. One NASA researcher called it the Space Beauty Treatment. Without gravity, your hair has more body. Your breasts don't sag. More of your body fluid migrates to your head and plumps your crow's feet. Because blood volume sensors are in the upper body only, your system thinks you are retaining too much fluid and dumps 10 to 15 percent of your water weight. Then again, I have also heard it called Puffy-Face Chicken-Leg Syndrome."
posted by maudlin at 3:53 PM on May 12, 2013 [16 favorites]
PEOPLE ARE SINGING BOWIE SONGS
IN SPACE
WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS MORE
posted by The Whelk at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2013 [61 favorites]
IN SPACE
WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS MORE
posted by The Whelk at 3:54 PM on May 12, 2013 [61 favorites]
Well, that was absolutely fantastic, wasn't it?
posted by elmer benson at 3:57 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by elmer benson at 3:57 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
He's playing on the official space station guitar, made by Larrivée Guitar in Vancouver (slyt). Twins were purchased at the same time; one remains in storage at NASA.
(I think the song was a little out of his vocal range, but as I can neither sing it myself or play guitar, much less in zero g while the Earth spins in beauty below, I'll just sit here and applaud. Bravo!)
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 4:06 PM on May 12, 2013
(I think the song was a little out of his vocal range, but as I can neither sing it myself or play guitar, much less in zero g while the Earth spins in beauty below, I'll just sit here and applaud. Bravo!)
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 4:06 PM on May 12, 2013
THIS IS WHY WE NEED A SPACE PROGRAM PEOPLE
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:09 PM on May 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:09 PM on May 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
Fucking Rock Star
posted by eyeballkid at 4:11 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by eyeballkid at 4:11 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hey what do you know people, this is literally not no DJ but hazy cosmic jive.
posted by The Whelk at 4:19 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:19 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
The "tin can" of the ISS fills me with awe, and I love that we live in an age where we are interacting with it in various ways which aren't strictly "scienceish".
How poetic for this to actually have been filmed in space. Could Bowie ever have imagined this when he wrote this song so many decades ago?
This has me tearing up for all kinds of reasons. But then, I'm still sort of recovering from this ISS moment from a U2 show a couple of years ago which combined with the overall flow of songs in that segment of the show rather moved me into an altered state of consciousness for a while.
posted by hippybear at 4:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
How poetic for this to actually have been filmed in space. Could Bowie ever have imagined this when he wrote this song so many decades ago?
This has me tearing up for all kinds of reasons. But then, I'm still sort of recovering from this ISS moment from a U2 show a couple of years ago which combined with the overall flow of songs in that segment of the show rather moved me into an altered state of consciousness for a while.
posted by hippybear at 4:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Does this mean we're going to have to start adding a round of American Idol-style eliminations to astronaut training?
posted by Dr. Zira at 4:30 PM on May 12, 2013
posted by Dr. Zira at 4:30 PM on May 12, 2013
Hadfield is a cultural sensation in Canada. Kids all across Canada (including my son) participated in a one-day singathon inspired by Hadfield. It was pretty cool.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:31 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 4:31 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is mind-bogglingly wonderful.
posted by homunculus at 4:43 PM on May 12, 2013
posted by homunculus at 4:43 PM on May 12, 2013
I've been following Chris Hadfield's posts for months now. He is so kind and gentle, like a favourite teacher, like a character from a kids book, the one that teaches you to work hard and follow your dreams. It's kind of hard these days to believe anyone could be so genuine and sincere, but he is. And he is so so so achingly Canadian, the distillation of everything we all hope to be, humble and mild-mannered but still proud to be doing our part to make the world a better place. Wearing the maple leaf on his sleeve, the best kind of Canadian hero, one who achieves global recognition without having to claw or fight his way to the top or turn his back on his provincial roots, still charming and trusting, and even eager and proud to bring all of us along for the ride.
His return to earth is tomorrow, via the Soyuz capsule, in what is guaranteed to be a rough and unpleasant ride. I will be holding my breath all day. I want him to visit all the cities on Canada and be the guest of honour at parades where Canadian flags are flown from every window and red and white streamers are thrown from above. I want schools and parks named after him, the whole deal, I know he is almost too maple-syrupy-sweet and that we Canadians all fixate on our famous children a little too much like small-town aunts and uncles, but I don't really care. I'm happy he is real and I want him to make it back safely.
posted by PercussivePaul at 4:47 PM on May 12, 2013 [84 favorites]
His return to earth is tomorrow, via the Soyuz capsule, in what is guaranteed to be a rough and unpleasant ride. I will be holding my breath all day. I want him to visit all the cities on Canada and be the guest of honour at parades where Canadian flags are flown from every window and red and white streamers are thrown from above. I want schools and parks named after him, the whole deal, I know he is almost too maple-syrupy-sweet and that we Canadians all fixate on our famous children a little too much like small-town aunts and uncles, but I don't really care. I'm happy he is real and I want him to make it back safely.
posted by PercussivePaul at 4:47 PM on May 12, 2013 [84 favorites]
His return to earth is tomorrow, via the Soyuz capsule, in what is guaranteed to be a rough and unpleasant ride.
My brother wanted to be an astronaut, but his dreams were dashed by the Soyuz capsule. You have to be less than 6'3" to be an astronaut and apparently fitting in the Soyuz capsule is the constraint.
posted by hoyland at 4:58 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
My brother wanted to be an astronaut, but his dreams were dashed by the Soyuz capsule. You have to be less than 6'3" to be an astronaut and apparently fitting in the Soyuz capsule is the constraint.
posted by hoyland at 4:58 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
That rough and unpleasant ride link from PercussivePaul is a must-read. Note how the article ends:
posted by maudlin at 5:09 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Since these capsules come down on land rather than water, as the Apollo moon capsules did, a parachute landing is pretty hard. So just before touching down, when the capsule is only a metre above the ground, six engines (actually explosive devices) fire straight down to create a cushion of air that softens the landing. Shock absorbers built into the seats absorb the final thump onto planet Earth.The video ends with a shot that certainly looks like a Soyuz landing. Hadfield knows just what he's facing on Monday.
Astronauts have described a Soyuz landing as similar to surviving a train wreck. It's rough, but it is the most reliable system that has been working since the beginning of the space program.
posted by maudlin at 5:09 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I cannot favorite just any one part of your comment, Paul, and I can't favorite the entirety enough. All good thoughts for Mr. Hadfield's safe return.
I really thought the video was going to be just a crude Bowie in 1972 /Ron Swanson mash. So much more.
Safe travels, Mr. Hadfield.
posted by vers at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2013
I really thought the video was going to be just a crude Bowie in 1972 /Ron Swanson mash. So much more.
Safe travels, Mr. Hadfield.
posted by vers at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2013
The missing context here is that this originated as a post on reddit, in response to a request from reddit, as part of an ongoing conversation with reddit.
posted by dontjumplarry at 5:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by dontjumplarry at 5:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
I so love Hadfield. My son so, so, so loves Hadfield.
This illustration (about how awesome Hadfield is) by Zen Pencils makes me cry nearly every time I see it, it's so perfect.
posted by youandiandaflame at 5:22 PM on May 12, 2013 [22 favorites]
This illustration (about how awesome Hadfield is) by Zen Pencils makes me cry nearly every time I see it, it's so perfect.
posted by youandiandaflame at 5:22 PM on May 12, 2013 [22 favorites]
That was great, and made me cry a little. I am getting old I guess.
posted by rtha at 5:39 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by rtha at 5:39 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm really going to miss his photos, videos, and tweets from the ISS. I look forward to his inevitable talk show tour. He's really been the first astronaut that made me feel like I knew someone who was in space, like I had a friend who was sending me postcards.
I get email alerts when the ISS is passing overhead so for the past few months I've been looking for it and occasionally photographing it. I've done that before but lately when it passed over I'd wave and say "Hello, Chris." I kind of feel like he's ushered in a new era in space.
Safe travels, Commander.
posted by bondcliff at 5:55 PM on May 12, 2013 [13 favorites]
I get email alerts when the ISS is passing overhead so for the past few months I've been looking for it and occasionally photographing it. I've done that before but lately when it passed over I'd wave and say "Hello, Chris." I kind of feel like he's ushered in a new era in space.
Safe travels, Commander.
posted by bondcliff at 5:55 PM on May 12, 2013 [13 favorites]
Hadfield is a Canadian hero. He introduced my son to science *and* Space Oddity.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by KokuRyu at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Proof that practical effects are better than CGI.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
but are they even really effects if what is being filmed is what is actually happening without any trickery?
posted by hippybear at 6:18 PM on May 12, 2013
posted by hippybear at 6:18 PM on May 12, 2013
I...
I.....
Okay, that last scene with the parachutes and stuff. I couldn't help but hear (in the background) ... (United Breaks Guitars....)
But..... Awesome.
posted by mule98J at 6:32 PM on May 12, 2013
I.....
Okay, that last scene with the parachutes and stuff. I couldn't help but hear (in the background) ... (United Breaks Guitars....)
But..... Awesome.
posted by mule98J at 6:32 PM on May 12, 2013
That rough and unpleasant ride link...
It didn't mention the bouncing. Or the bouncing. And possie tipping over.
It's a seemingly crazy way of landing, but it works!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2013
It didn't mention the bouncing. Or the bouncing. And possie tipping over.
It's a seemingly crazy way of landing, but it works!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2013
but are they even really effects if what is being filmed is what is actually happening without any trickery?
Frankly, the effects are kind of overkill as a way of creating the illusion of being in a science fiction music video.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:53 PM on May 12, 2013
Frankly, the effects are kind of overkill as a way of creating the illusion of being in a science fiction music video.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:53 PM on May 12, 2013
Could Bowie ever have imagined this when he wrote this song so many decades ago?
When I first saw this, I couldn't shake the feeling that "God, I wish I was/could be in the same room watching Bowie's face when he sees this himself."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:18 PM on May 12, 2013 [20 favorites]
When I first saw this, I couldn't shake the feeling that "God, I wish I was/could be in the same room watching Bowie's face when he sees this himself."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:18 PM on May 12, 2013 [20 favorites]
For me, Hadfield has kind of been in the background. Growing up, I was a total space nerd. I knew astronaut names and knew which space shuttle orbiter was on each mission. Today, I guess I'm still a space nerd but the things I think about are more along the lines of space policy, the changes in the manned space program, and the rise of privatized space flight. Somewhere along the line I lost the interest in the individuals that make up the story.
For my wife it's a different story. She doesn't have the nerdy background that I have and never paid attention to the glory days of the shuttle program while growing up. But she follows Cmdr Hadfield on Twitter, retweets his pictures, and fills me in on what's going on with him every day. She woke up early yesterday to watch the repair spacewalk on the live feed. It's like living with a 12-year-old me. She, like PercussivePaul, regards him as a true Canadian hero.
And she's right. He's exactly the sort of human face that the space program needs, and his social media outreach combined with his obvious love of science and his job makes him an excellent role model. It's time for me to start paying attention to astronauts again.
posted by flipper at 7:29 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
For my wife it's a different story. She doesn't have the nerdy background that I have and never paid attention to the glory days of the shuttle program while growing up. But she follows Cmdr Hadfield on Twitter, retweets his pictures, and fills me in on what's going on with him every day. She woke up early yesterday to watch the repair spacewalk on the live feed. It's like living with a 12-year-old me. She, like PercussivePaul, regards him as a true Canadian hero.
And she's right. He's exactly the sort of human face that the space program needs, and his social media outreach combined with his obvious love of science and his job makes him an excellent role model. It's time for me to start paying attention to astronauts again.
posted by flipper at 7:29 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Sorry, Tilda Swinton does not make an appearance.
Tilda Swinton does not make appearances.
Tilda Swinton actualizes.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:49 PM on May 12, 2013 [11 favorites]
Tilda Swinton does not make appearances.
Tilda Swinton actualizes.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:49 PM on May 12, 2013 [11 favorites]
From the related videos: proof that you can't cry in space. Okay, maybe I lack imagination because that's totally not a question I ever would have thought to ask, but holy crap. (Yes, that's grade school science, but still pretty cool.)
posted by hoyland at 8:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hoyland at 8:21 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
nd I'll take it any day over the hot, cloying slice of awfulness he did with the Barenaked Ladies that the CBC plays incessantly.
If you refer to a band that does not contain Steven Page as 'The Barenaked Ladies' I will come 'round your place poste haste and beat you with a rubber hose.
posted by jimmythefish at 9:18 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you refer to a band that does not contain Steven Page as 'The Barenaked Ladies' I will come 'round your place poste haste and beat you with a rubber hose.
posted by jimmythefish at 9:18 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not going to lie.
This video is seriously re-affirming my hope in humanity as a species.
I am not even kidding.
posted by The Whelk at 9:25 PM on May 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
This video is seriously re-affirming my hope in humanity as a species.
I am not even kidding.
posted by The Whelk at 9:25 PM on May 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
>nd I'll take it any day over the hot, cloying slice of awfulness he did with the Barenaked Ladies that the CBC plays incessantly.
If you refer to a band that does not contain Steven Page as 'The Barenaked Ladies' I will come 'round your place poste haste and beat you with a rubber hose.
I thought that was rather well done (and I am told I look exactly like the departed Steven Page) and it was rather neat to listen to my 10 year-old-son sing that song around the house.
Hadfield reminds me of the old, cheerful and goofily earnest Canada that I grew up with, not the hard-edged, unimaginative replica the Conservatives are trying so hard to sell to us.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:37 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
If you refer to a band that does not contain Steven Page as 'The Barenaked Ladies' I will come 'round your place poste haste and beat you with a rubber hose.
I thought that was rather well done (and I am told I look exactly like the departed Steven Page) and it was rather neat to listen to my 10 year-old-son sing that song around the house.
Hadfield reminds me of the old, cheerful and goofily earnest Canada that I grew up with, not the hard-edged, unimaginative replica the Conservatives are trying so hard to sell to us.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:37 PM on May 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
We get the whole crew to do Mother ship Connection.
posted by The Whelk at 9:39 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:39 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I want him to visit all the cities on Canada and be the guest of honour at parades where Canadian flags are flown from every window and red and white streamers are thrown from above.
In Calgary, this will be July 5th.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:00 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
In Calgary, this will be July 5th.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:00 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
The lyrical edits to the song, in addition ro making it factually accurate to the Commander's experience and situation (for example, "nothing left to do" instead of "nothing I can do") have the additional twin effects of making this cover of Space Oddity into simultaneously an answer song and an actual (one-way) dialog with Major Tom, the pop-culture lostronaut timelessly circling Earth.
Major Tom hears you, Commander. He loves you very much, you know.
posted by mwhybark at 10:26 PM on May 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
Major Tom hears you, Commander. He loves you very much, you know.
posted by mwhybark at 10:26 PM on May 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
David Bowie- Space Oddity Original Video (1969)
posted by homunculus at 11:14 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 11:14 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am currently going through a serious Bowie phase, rekindled by his latest gift of an album. Cmdr Hadfield is my most looked-forward person on Twitter. Put these together and I am in heaven. An amazing video and as someone said up-thread, very "affirming". And to know that Bowie had a hand in this video makes this so, so special. Still buzzin'!!!!
posted by vac2003 at 11:59 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by vac2003 at 11:59 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm kind of surprised they managed to get an acoustic guitar up there... relatively light, for sure, but the volume tradeoff seems a bit extreme, no?
Sure, but as long as you can also fit things inside the guitar for launch it looks rather more like a fragile storage box than wasted air.
posted by jaduncan at 1:11 AM on May 13, 2013
Sure, but as long as you can also fit things inside the guitar for launch it looks rather more like a fragile storage box than wasted air.
posted by jaduncan at 1:11 AM on May 13, 2013
I'm kind of surprised they managed to get an acoustic guitar up there... relatively light, for sure, but the volume tradeoff seems a bit extreme, no?
The guitar went up on Shuttle, I believe, and that had a lot of cargo capacity. In fact, the first SpaceX Dragon to reach ISS was only something like 10% full, as they were rating the spacecraft and didn't want to/couldn't risk anything actually important -- and Dragon could actually fit an entire Soyuz descent module inside. The various cargo vehicles being prepped for ISS all have similarly massive capacity compared with a Soyuz/Progress vehicle.
Obviously you don't want to "waste" an ounce, but the space program sees value in giving the astronauts creative outlets and other things that keep them psychologically healthy.
Hadfield knows just what he's facing on Monday.
Indeed. Plenty of training. And indeed, maudlin, that article describes a problematic descent scenario very similar to the one that happened in 2008, when the capsule experienced a "ballistic re-entry" due to the failure of an explosive bolt.
Could Bowie ever have imagined this when he wrote this song so many decades ago?
I'm pretty confident that at the time he wrote it, the prevailing belief was that in 2013 we'd all be taking weekend jaunts to the moon.
posted by dhartung at 2:01 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
The guitar went up on Shuttle, I believe, and that had a lot of cargo capacity. In fact, the first SpaceX Dragon to reach ISS was only something like 10% full, as they were rating the spacecraft and didn't want to/couldn't risk anything actually important -- and Dragon could actually fit an entire Soyuz descent module inside. The various cargo vehicles being prepped for ISS all have similarly massive capacity compared with a Soyuz/Progress vehicle.
Obviously you don't want to "waste" an ounce, but the space program sees value in giving the astronauts creative outlets and other things that keep them psychologically healthy.
Hadfield knows just what he's facing on Monday.
Indeed. Plenty of training. And indeed, maudlin, that article describes a problematic descent scenario very similar to the one that happened in 2008, when the capsule experienced a "ballistic re-entry" due to the failure of an explosive bolt.
Could Bowie ever have imagined this when he wrote this song so many decades ago?
I'm pretty confident that at the time he wrote it, the prevailing belief was that in 2013 we'd all be taking weekend jaunts to the moon.
posted by dhartung at 2:01 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm kind of surprised they managed to get an acoustic guitar up there... relatively light, for sure, but the volume tradeoff seems a bit extreme, no?
It's not so much the guitar, but the roadies that are the logistical nightmare.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:17 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's not so much the guitar, but the roadies that are the logistical nightmare.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:17 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm on my 5th or 6th listen to it since I had time to listen to it this morning.
I well up when he sings "last look at the world" as I can only imagine what's going through his head as he prepares to head back down to Earth.
I even like the "mistake" of seeing his reflection in the space suit visor. It reminds us that it's him up there working hard.
It doesn't sound auto-tuned to me.
posted by milkb0at at 6:42 AM on May 13, 2013
I well up when he sings "last look at the world" as I can only imagine what's going through his head as he prepares to head back down to Earth.
I even like the "mistake" of seeing his reflection in the space suit visor. It reminds us that it's him up there working hard.
It doesn't sound auto-tuned to me.
posted by milkb0at at 6:42 AM on May 13, 2013
I'm pretty confident that at the time he wrote it, the prevailing belief was that in 2013 we'd all be taking weekend jaunts to the moon.
Or we'd be a bunch of radioactive craters.
posted by Artw at 6:59 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Or we'd be a bunch of radioactive craters.
posted by Artw at 6:59 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
My four year old twins love Buzz Lightyear, Chris Hadfield, and Suni Williams roughly in that order, and Chris has been rapidly gaining on Buzz. I love that we live in an era in which real space men and women are able to communicate back to earth in real time and that they're doing awesome stuff and sharing it with us to boot.
posted by togdon at 9:05 AM on May 13, 2013
posted by togdon at 9:05 AM on May 13, 2013
@Whelk I know right? Bowie is, in a way, actually in space now.
THAT'S PRETTY FAR OUT MAN
posted by Lou Stuells at 10:54 AM on May 13, 2013
THAT'S PRETTY FAR OUT MAN
posted by Lou Stuells at 10:54 AM on May 13, 2013
When I first saw this, I couldn't shake the feeling that "God, I wish I was/could be in the same room watching Bowie's face when he sees this himself."
Bowie's official Twitter account (some intern?) responded yesterday, and the tweet links to his Facebook page. Close as any of us will get, I guess.
posted by maudlin at 2:18 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bowie's official Twitter account (some intern?) responded yesterday, and the tweet links to his Facebook page. Close as any of us will get, I guess.
posted by maudlin at 2:18 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hadfield is so awesome he made David Bowie use the all caps.
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:06 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:06 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I may have missed it if someone already posted it, but here is Cmdr. Hadfield at the Larrivee factory talking about playing guitar in space.
Also, even though there are a million and two guitar players out there (and I think that's just in my neighborhood alone actually) and I'm an exceptionally mediocre guitar player at best, this makes me proud to be a guitar player because, well... art... science.... awesomeness.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 3:48 PM on May 13, 2013
Also, even though there are a million and two guitar players out there (and I think that's just in my neighborhood alone actually) and I'm an exceptionally mediocre guitar player at best, this makes me proud to be a guitar player because, well... art... science.... awesomeness.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 3:48 PM on May 13, 2013
Looks like the Soyuz has undocked from the ISS. CBC has live coverage here.
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:52 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:52 PM on May 13, 2013
Correction: They're still ten minutes away from undocking.
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:56 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:56 PM on May 13, 2013
CBC coverage live-tweeting the re-entry. Other modules have been jettisoned, parachutes in 5.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:11 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:11 PM on May 13, 2013
Successful chute deployment reported
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:18 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:18 PM on May 13, 2013
Live view of capsule on the NASA feed. Touchdown in 10 minutes.
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:20 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:20 PM on May 13, 2013
@Evan_Hadfield: "Astronauts close their mouths on landing, because the slam into Earth is strong enough to bite off your own tongue. Hard landing."
Jeeeeez.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:29 PM on May 13, 2013
Jeeeeez.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:29 PM on May 13, 2013
I think I have a girl crush on Russian Mission Control Lady.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:29 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:29 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Landed!
posted by gingerbeer at 7:31 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by gingerbeer at 7:31 PM on May 13, 2013
How can you tell? That video on NASA TV was terrible.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:33 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:33 PM on May 13, 2013
That sucked NASA! Could you get any further away? All we got was a parachute collapsing and a plume of smoke.
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:34 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:34 PM on May 13, 2013
And here I am bitching about the video quality of a real time landing in Kazakhstan of some guys who spent the last six months tweeting, sending photos, and making rock videos in outer space.
Hello 21st century!
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:36 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hello 21st century!
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:36 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I love this. Just beautiful. I'm with KokuRyu; Chris Hadfield is a far, far better representative of Canada than that guy currently occupying 24 Sussex Drive.
Chris Hadfield for PM in 2015!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:46 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Chris Hadfield for PM in 2015!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:46 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The video now has almost 5 million views in the past day and a half. Now that Billboard is using YouTube numbers, is this going to be the first song recorded in space to chart?
posted by thecjm at 11:11 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by thecjm at 11:11 PM on May 13, 2013
How Chris Hadfield covered David Bowie in space, with a little help from some famous friends.
Bowie's posting about it on his site.
Emm Gryner's blog post---she's the piano player, and the link between Hadfield and Bowie.
posted by bonehead at 1:24 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bowie's posting about it on his site.
Emm Gryner's blog post---she's the piano player, and the link between Hadfield and Bowie.
posted by bonehead at 1:24 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, wow -- thanks, bonehead!
From the Globe & Mail article: "Hadfield’s vocals are astonishingly well delivered, given the conditions and equipment (likely GarageBand software and an iPad)."
So I checked with MeFi's favourite surrealist yuppie / urban fairy, and yep, she noticed.
posted by maudlin at 1:33 PM on May 14, 2013
From the Globe & Mail article: "Hadfield’s vocals are astonishingly well delivered, given the conditions and equipment (likely GarageBand software and an iPad)."
So I checked with MeFi's favourite surrealist yuppie / urban fairy, and yep, she noticed.
posted by maudlin at 1:33 PM on May 14, 2013
Oh, and Emm Gryner is pretty damn awesome, too. From her second most recent blog post:
On my way home I was pumping breastmilk in the bathroom (because there is nowhere decent to pump breastmilk in public) when who should call but astronaut Chris Hadfield! He called me from space!! And we discussed some private music-making we have been doing. And people thought I was just going in to take a wizz.posted by maudlin at 1:36 PM on May 14, 2013
People are continuing to talk about how damn awesome this guy is - he apparently was one of the main chefs when he was in orbit as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:41 PM on May 14, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:41 PM on May 14, 2013
True fact: Now that Hadfeld is back on earth, he's getting used to speaking like the rest of us again now that his tongue and lips are no longer weightless.
Maybe not a true fact: He's making videos again.
posted by maudlin at 7:45 PM on May 16, 2013
Maybe not a true fact: He's making videos again.
posted by maudlin at 7:45 PM on May 16, 2013
This guy is damn awesome. If the US does send an Orion spacecraft around the Moon in 2019, he should be on it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:26 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:26 PM on May 16, 2013
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield made the first music video in space!!
I don't want to harsh your buzz, but Andrew Bolt, who is our Australian version of a right wing pundit, has an issue with this video as a waste of tax payer dollars.
No link.
Bolt also does not pay US taxes, but he's just that bitter.
posted by Mezentian at 8:59 AM on May 17, 2013
I don't want to harsh your buzz, but Andrew Bolt, who is our Australian version of a right wing pundit, has an issue with this video as a waste of tax payer dollars.
No link.
Bolt also does not pay US taxes, but he's just that bitter.
posted by Mezentian at 8:59 AM on May 17, 2013
He'll be happy to know that it was produced during R&R time then, unless he's suggesting that public employees should never have days off and/or breaks.
posted by jaduncan at 11:33 AM on May 17, 2013
posted by jaduncan at 11:33 AM on May 17, 2013
What Did The Mythbusters Invent For Chris Hadfield in Space?
posted by homunculus at 4:25 PM on May 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 4:25 PM on May 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Chris Hadfield talks about re-adapting to Earth's gravity
posted by homunculus at 4:47 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 4:47 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
"The Larrivée Parlor on the ISS was purchased at the local Guitar Center in Southern Florida and there are actually two of them," Larrivée told SPACE.com. "The other stays on the ground at NASA so they know what's up there."
That's for the scene where they dump a bunch of stuff on the table and say "We have to fit THIS into THIS using only THIS."
posted by Zed at 12:52 PM on June 6, 2013
That's for the scene where they dump a bunch of stuff on the table and say "We have to fit THIS into THIS using only THIS."
posted by Zed at 12:52 PM on June 6, 2013
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