One hundred years from now, humans may look back and define early 21st century space exploration as nothing more than a progression of tiny baby steps, says one of Canada's most experienced astronauts.
But for Chris Hadfield, who will be the first Canadian to command the International Space Station in 2013, each of those tiny steps is more like a giant leap forward.
"For us, we're still the baby," said Hadfield. "Those are huge ... we fall down a lot. We're going to bang our head a lot. But we have to take these steps on the way to being able to go farther."
Quote:
Hadfield will climb aboard a Soyuz spacecraft in Kazakhstan this December and for the third time in his career blast into space.
But this voyage will be unlike any other for Hadfield who was born in Sarnia, Ont. and grew up in the community of Milton near Toronto.
He'll remain aboard the space station for six months, performing work that will pave the way for future generations.
Quote:
When it comes to the future of Canada's space program, Hadfield said this country will continue to co-operate and fly with other nations, trading on the expertise of our astronauts.
"We are doing, especially in the Canadian Space Agency, we are doing our absolute best with every dollar that we're are given to try and get the most return from it. We work hard at it."
As the heads of major space agencies gather in this country to discuss the future of the International Space Station, Canada has yet to commit itself to remaining involved in the orbiting lab beyond 2015.
Quote:
some industry players are concerned that, unlike its partners, Canada has not signed on for the period until 2020, the end of the current projected lifespan of the station.
"Not having committed to being on the space station for another five years certainly makes our partners wonder whether we will continue to be part of space at all," said Iain Christie, president of the Neptec Design Group, in a recent interview.
"Europeans, Japanese, Americans, everybody else who is part of the space station has said they have renewed their commitments; Canada has not."
Quote:
the CSA may be trying to renegotiate its agreement to get more Canadian astronauts up to the station. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will travel to the ISS for a six-month stay at the end of 2012, but it's not clear when another Canadian will follow. There are no flights — beyond Hadfield — scheduled for Canadians before the end of the decade.
Gotta give credit to Cmdr. Chris Hadfield - can you think of anyone in Canada (or dare I say the USA) who has given such panache to humans in space recently? Julie Payette, Marc Garneau - they're household names (?) in Canada. But after Hadfield's excellent use of social media (Twitter), his posting of photos of the earth via the same, and now today's great live singalong from orbit - man, the next ISS Commander has gotta be thinking how he's going to follow that act!
International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield will lead a high-tech concert Monday, joining thousands of young voices from around the world — with his own voice from space.
Students, musicians and other participants across Canada and as far away as Singapore and Australia will sing along with Hadfield, belting out ISS — Is Somebody Singing, the song Hadfield co-wrote with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, to celebrate the ninth edition Music Monday, an annual celebration put on by the Coalition for Music Education.
He's actually got a pretty good voice; I'm sure it's been auto-tuned and otherwise processed extensively, but still, he sounds a lot better than most current pop-stars.
Location: Aylmer (Gatineau) across the river from Ottawa
Posts: 16,193
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryanc
He's actually got a pretty good voice; I'm sure it's been auto-tuned and otherwise processed extensively, but still, he sounds a lot better than most current pop-stars.
Well that's a bit of hyperbole...
But he did a very respectable job. I like the way at the end of the video he cruises down the chamber grabs his guitar and then launches himself up into another chamber. Very cool.
It’s possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created and you may recognise the name of one of those involved in its creation.
We’re talking about Chris's fellow Canadian, the lovely Emm Gryner, who was a part of the Bowie live band in 1999/2000. Here’s what she said on her blog regarding her involvement:
“The task was in front of me. I came up with a piano part. i then enlisted my friend, producer and fellow Canadian Joe Corcoran to take my piano idea and Chris' vocal and blow it up into a fully produced song. Drums! mellotrons! fuzz bass! We also incorporated into the track ambient space station noises which Chris had put on his Soundcloud. I was mostly blown away by how pure and earnest Chris' singing is on this track. Like weightlessness and his voice agreed to agree.
And voila! And astronaut sings Space Oddity in space! I was so honoured to be asked to be a part of this. You wouldn't get too many chances to make a recording like this and not only that, to make music with someone who - through his vibrant communications with kids in schools to his breathtaking photos to his always patient and good-humoured demeanour - has done more for science and space than anyone else this generation. Planet earth IS blue, and there's nothing left for Chris Hadfield to do. Right. Safe travels home Commander! ”
I did a quick search for a comment from Bowie on this cover, but nothing so far... However... whoever handles Bowie's FB and website certainly seem pleased to promote it. Chris' rendition of Space Oddity is also featured on Bowie's website!
after watching that video with the kids.. [ they are really thrilled about space ] I assume that was the goal, get future generations involved..
__________________
Apple MacBook Pro 13" 2.9GHZ i7 12GBs
Apple Thunderbolt display 27", Macally Bluetooth Keyboard
Internal 1 x OCZ Deneva2 SSD 480 GBs ( removed superdrive - installed 750GB HD in place )
LaCie Stark 1TB for time machine, Apple Track Pad
Moshi Keyboard cover ( to catch the drool when surfing rumor sites )
Canadians. In. Spaaaaaaaaaace!!!!
Linear Mode
