Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield was born on August 29th, 1959 and is currently 66 years old. Chris Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
Chris Hadfield is known for writing in the Non-Fiction and Thriller genres.
Chris Hadfield is a retired Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station (ISS) who made history as the first Canadian to ever walk in space.
He was brought up on a farm in Ontario, and after watching the Apollo 11 landing on the moon at just 10 years old, he started dreaming of becoming an astronaut.
As an adult, Chris Hadfield joined the Canadian Armed Forces and went on to work as a test pilot and fighter pilot. During this time, he flew more than 70 types of aircraft and conducted extensive research with NASA.
In 1992, Chris was selected by the Canadian Space Agency to join the astronaut program. After training for several years, he made his first space flight on the
STS-74 in 1995. This was a Space Shuttle Atlantis mission that took him to
Mir, the Russian Space Station.
Hadfield has since logged nearly 4,000 hours of space time, working on the International Space Station in 2001 and again in 2012 and 2013, when he was promoted to commander of the ISS.
During his time as an astronaut, Chris Hadfield used a Swiss army knife to break into Mir in addition to helping run hundreds of scientific experiments. He has also been temporarily blinded outside the ISS and has become a YouTube sensation performing
Space Oddity by David Bowie aboard the ISS.
In 2013, Chris Hadfield returned to Earth and shortly thereafter announced his retirement following more than three decades as an astronaut and military pilot.
In 2021, Chris Hadfield published the space thriller
The Apollo Murders, set in 1973 on a secret mission to the Moon.
Three astronauts are sent on a mission, but the truth is that the crew has links to a hidden political scheme involving a clandestine Soviet space station spying on the United States.
Kaz Zemeckis, the flight controller, is guiding the mission while dealing with unexpected betrayal, hidden motives, and growing danger. With tensions rising between the Soviet Union and the US, both sides find themselves in a dangerous space conflict.
In
The Defector, Chris Hadfield published a Cold War thriller set in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War.
This is the story of former NASA flight controller and US test pilot Kaz Zameckis, whose life is turned upside down when a Soviet MiG fighter unexpectedly lands in Israel. The Soviet pilot is offering highly valuable secrets in exchange for being allowed to defect to the United States.
Kaz soon finds himself at the center of a perilous mission shrouded in military secrecy, political tension, and espionage. As trust is tested, he must employ caution and intelligence to survive a risky international game.
In his first non-fiction work,
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield shares lessons from his years as a space explorer and astronaut.
He draws on his experiences in space and NASA training to explain how calm thinking, discipline, and preparation helped him navigate perilous and difficult situations. Instead of focusing solely on success, he emphasizes the importance of carefully preparing for problems and expecting them, even when everything seems perfect.
Hadfield shows that staying flexible, accepting feedback, and paying attention to small details often lead to significant growth. Through stories of teamwork, emergencies, and spacewalks, he offers practical lessons that apply to everyday challenges on Earth.
Related Authors
Fans of Chris Hadfield also enjoy these authors:
- Ward Larsen, author of the David Slaton Series.
- Barry Eisler, author of the John Rain Series.
- Jack Higgins, author of the Liam Devlin Series.
- Stephen Leather, author of the Spider Shepherd Series.
- David Archer, author of the Noah Wolf Series.
- Mark Greaney, author of the Court Gentry / Gray Man Series.
- Brad Thor, author of the Scot Harvath Series.
- Nelson DeMille, author of the John Corey Series.
- Tom Clancy, author of the Jack Ryan Universe.
- Jack Carr, author of the James Reece Series.
Chris Hadfield: F.A.Q
When was Chris Hadfield Born? How old is Chris Hadfield?
Chris Hadfield was born on August 29th, 1959. Chris Hadfield is currently 66 years old.
Where was Chris Hadfield Born?
Chris Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada and is Canadian.
What was the first book Chris Hadfield wrote?
The first book written by Chris Hadfield was An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, published in 2013.
What was the most recent book Chris Hadfield wrote?
His most recently released work was Final Orbit on October 7th, 2025.
What is the most popular book by Chris Hadfield?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Chris Hadfield book is
The Apollo Murders. Here are his most popular books and their average ratings:
- The Apollo Murders (9.00)
- The Defector (8.67)
- An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth (8.80)
- Final Orbit (9.00)
- The Darkest Dark (10.00)
What genres does Chris Hadfield Write?
Chris Hadfield primarily writes in the Non-Fiction and Thriller genres. His work includes sub-genres such as Crime Thriller, Spy / Espionage Thriller, and Political Thriller.
Are there upcoming new books by Chris Hadfield?
Chris Hadfield does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
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How many books has Chris Hadfield written?
Chris Hadfield has written 6 books. 3 books in the Apollo Murders Series, 1 book in the Picture Books, 2 Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the Kate Fillion Picture Books.