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News in Review – February 2013 – Teacher Resource Guide CHRIS HADFIELD: Return to Space

MINDS‐ON ACTIVITY

In 1969, a young Chris Hadfield watched a grainy television image of Neil Armstrong stepping off the ladder of the lunar module Eagle onto the Moon’s surface. Seeing this scientific triumph was enough to inspire Hadfield to spend the formative years of his life becoming an himself. Three trips to space later, Hadfield stands out as one of ’s accomplished .

1. What inspires you? Have you been inspired to reach your potential by an event or person?

2. How difficult do you think it was for Hadfield to achieve his goal?

3. What kind of dedication and education do you think it takes to become an astronaut?

SETTING THE STAGE

To say that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s Hello Twitterverse star is on the rise — at a time when he is closer The affable Hadfield has become a household to the stars than anybody on Earth — would be name since taking to space in late 2012. He an understatement. Since rocketing into space reaches out to almost 350 000 people down on and boarding the International Space Station Earth via his Twitter account, providing (ISS) for his most recent voyage in December informative tweets and stunning photographs 2012, Hadfield has recorded a song with the from his perch nearly 400 kilometres above the , virtually dropped the puck at planet’s surface. Actually to call his position a the home opener, had a perch is a bit misleading — the ISS orbits Earth lengthy chat with Captain Kirk of , and every 90 minutes at a speed of close to 28 000 positioned himself as Canada’s greatest space km/hr. That’s 16 times around the planet a day. ambassador — all this in addition to his daily And there’s Chris Hadfield following his responsibilities as an ISS scientist and crew gruelling astronaut regimen for the ISS space member. Oh, and one other thing, he is program while still finding time to snap a few scheduled to become the first Canadian pictures and tweet his perspectives to curious commander of the ISS in March 2013 (actually space watchers firmly grounded back on the he will be the first commander of the ISS who planet’s surface. isn’t from the United States or Russia).

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

A Natural Leader was a voyage of Canadian firsts: Hadfield While most Canadians may be just getting to became the first Canadian mission specialist, the know Hadfield, many others have been watching first Canadian to operate the , and the this bright Canadian star rise beyond the first Canadian to board the space station . In stratosphere for years. From life on an 2001, Hadfield returned to space aboard the corn farm to the top of his class at the Royal Endeavour. On this mission, he Military College, Hadfield has consistently installed the Canadarm2 onto the ISS, spending proven to be a person of distinction. An close to 15 hours working in near-zero gravity accomplished Canadian pilot and outside the station on two separate spacewalks. scientist, Hadfield emerged from a field of over And the next Canadian first is set to occur in 5 000 candidates to become an astronaut for the March 2013 when Hadfield takes over as (CSA) in 1992. Since commander of the ISS — a role that he has been that time, he has taken on a variety of leadership moving toward since he first made the decision roles with the CSA, NASA and in partnerships to become an astronaut. Who knows what the with the Russian space agency. future holds for this remarkable Canadian once he returns to Earth? Space Experience Hadfield has been in space on two previous occasions. In 1995, he served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. That

To Consider

1. What is Chris Hadfield doing to grab the attention of so many people? 2. What efforts has Hadfield taken to promote his mission? 3. Why do many people think that Hadfield is a born leader who is more than ready to take command of the ISS? 4. Which experiences do you think will help Hadfield when he takes command of the ISS in March 2013?

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing Question

Canada became the third nation to venture into space with the launch of the Alouette-1 satellite in 1962. Since then, Canada has pumped billions of dollars into space exploration with the investment sitting at $2 billion per year. Do you think it is worth the financial costs to continue sending people and machinery into space when there are other issues that need to be addressed closer to home?

Viewing Questions

1. Who is Chris Hadfield?

2. How many times has Hadfield been in space?

3. a) How long will Hadfield be aboard the International Space Station (ISS)?

b) What leadership role will Hadfield assume while on the ISS?

4. Why couldn’t the cameras film the entire tour of the ISS mock up?

5. Describe Hadfield’s attitude as the mission approaches.

6. How does the Russian approach to space technology differ from the U.S. approach?

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

7. How long will it take Hadfield and his fellow astronauts to get to the ISS?

8. a) What parts of the body start to atrophy when an astronaut spends an extended period of time in space?

b) What symptoms did Bob Thirsk experience after he returned from the ISS?

9. What did Chris Hadfield have to do to become an astronaut? What did he have to do to set himself apart from his competition?

10. What does Hadfield plan to do with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies at some point during his ISS mission?

11. Why does Bob Thirsk think that Hadfield’s taking command of the ISS is an important step for the Canadian space program?

12. When did Hadfield and his crew dock at the ISS?

13. Describe Hadfield’s conversation with his sons once he reached the ISS.

14. How busy will Hadfield be during his six months aboard the ISS?

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

15. How does Hadfield plan to keep his fans informed about what is happening on the ISS?

Post‐viewing Questions

1. Based on Bob Thirsk’s description of the physical demands of living in space and adjusting to a return to Earth, do you think many people would say NO to a trip to space?

2. Do you think Hadfield’s use of social media is a kind of publicity stunt or do you think it is an important way to promote Canada’s accomplishments in space?

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

ACTIVITY: Singing with the Barenaked Ladies

Minds On

Chris Hadfield is an accomplished musician as well as an astronaut. He released the first song ever recorded in space (Jewel of the Night) late in 2012 and plans on recording the first album in space at some point over the course of his six months in space. In other words, besides being a gifted astronaut, pilot, and scientist, Hadfield is also a talented musician. Consider this perspective and then read about his collaboration with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies.

Space Jam

On February 8, 2013, Ed Robertson and Chris Hadfield premiered a song they co-wrote for Music Monday 2013, a CBC Music initiative designed to promote music education in Canada. Joined by the rest of his Barenaked Ladies band mates and the Wexford Gleeks (a Toronto school choir), Robertson and Hadfield performed their song ISS (Is Someone Singing?). Robertson led the performance in a sound studio on Earth while Hadfield played his guitar and sang his parts from the cupola observation module on the International Space Station (ISS). The song marked the first time a song was performed and recorded on Earth and in space.

Your task

1. Watch the performance at: music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/2/Space-jam-watch-the-premiere-of-ISS-Is-Somebody-Singing

2. How impressed were you by the performance? How difficult do you think it was to coordinate Hadfield’s space performance with the Barenaked Ladies/Wexford Gleeks performance on Earth?

3. What did you think of the song? What did you like or not like about the melody and lyrics?

Did You Know? While performing in the cupola observation module of the ISS, Hadfield had to anchor himself to part of the station with restraining straps so he wouldn’t float around during his performance. He also performed without a guitar strap because he didn’t have to worry about earth‐strength gravity pulling his guitar to the ground. However, the absence of significant gravitational pull did mean that he had to careful using the frets of his guitar. In microgravity, the hand can easily miss its mark causing the musician to play the wrong notes. Hadfield said he Hadfield’s mission patch is shaped had to make some significant adjustments to learn how to play like a guitar pick, signifying the his guitar in space. importance of music in his life.

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

ACTIVITY: Chris Hadfield – “Rock Star”

Minds On

When Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was assigned the job of commander for on the International Space Station, he knew he was in a position to promote the space program to his fellow Canadians. It didn’t take long for Canadians to take notice as Hadfield grew to almost “rock star” status. Be mindful of Hadfield’s surge in popularity as you read the article.

How Chris Hadfield Became a “Rock Star”

1. Traversing the Twitterverse 3. Connecting with Captain Kirk Hadfield’s Twitter following rested at around 13 In the mid-1960s, actor played 000 a few weeks before he was launched into Captain James T. Kirk on the hit series Star space aboard a Russian spacecraft. That Trek. The television show sparked the number grew to a little over 20 000 on the day imagination of many people around the world, he left for the International Space Station (ISS). with the character of Kirk becoming an icon for This modest following exploded early in 2013 science-fiction fans everywhere. To this day, when Hadfield’s stunning photographs of Earth Shatner is connected with Kirk and, when he began going viral on the internet and shortly contacted Chris Hadfield via Twitter in early after he began a tweet exchange with Canadian 2013, a relationship was established between the actor William Shatner. In fact, by early February fictional captain and the rea- life commander. 2013, Hadfield’s following grew to nearly 350 Eventually, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) 000. Hadfield did not disappoint his new arranged a chat between the two men. The audience, treating them to a daily dose of clever conversation explored everything from space tweets and pictures that were literally out of this funding to the majesty of the universe with the world. two setting an informal date to share a glass of whiskey at Hadfield’s Ontario cottage upon his 2. Reaching out to the kids return to Earth. The conversation garnered a lot During his mission training, Hadfield and his of media attention and led to a spike in fellow crew members practiced doing live chats Hadfield’s Twitter following. with groups, including school children. Near the end of January 2013, he put this skill into action 4. Rockin’ with a rock star when he spoke with students at Chris Hadfield Two days after the exchange with Shatner, Public School in Milton, Ontario. He answered Hadfield performed a song he co-wrote with Ed questions about his life on the ISS, how much he Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies. With missed his family, and whether life exists Hadfield on the ISS and Robertson at a sound elsewhere in the universe. The exchange was stage, the two performed their song with the help fascinating as the down to earth astronaut of Robertson’s Barenaked Ladies band mates delivered his message from outer space. This and the Wexford Gleeks choir. The performance was an example of one of many appearances that of the song drew serious attention across Canada Hadfield would make over the course of his time and created a mild buzz around the world. aboard the ISS.

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

5. His eloquence and attitude place that's in great turmoil, it's hard to Since arriving on the ISS, Hadfield has made reconcile the inherent patience and beauty frequent appearances via video link on television of the world with the terrible things that we and the Internet. His growing celebrity comes from his ability to connect with almost any do to each other and to the Earth.„ audience. Whether he is singing a song, – Chris Hadfield, CBC News, January 10, 2013 speaking to an interviewer, or addressing a group of students, Hadfield has an ability to Certainly this eloquent astronaut will continue to present his message in a clear and eloquent way. impress his fellow Canadians when he assumes Early in his mission, Hadfield gave reporters his command of the ISS and when he returns to perspective from space, saying Earth. What’s next for Hadfield remains to be seen but, one thing is clear, he left Earth a minor “To go around the whole world in just slightly celebrity and he’ll return a Canadian “rock star.” over 90 minutes…you see it absolutely as one place…. So when we look down at a

To Consider

1. What role did Twitter place in Hadfield’s growing popularity?

2. Why do you think Hadfield’s chat with actor William Shatner garnered so much attention?

3. What was so impressive about the Hadfield/Robertson song collaboration?

4. Why do you think Chris Hadfield became seen as a kind of “rock star” during his time on the ISS in 2012-2013?

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

ACTIVITY: The Right Stuff – Life in Space

Minds On

The 1983 movie The Right Stuff chronicled the efforts by the predecessors of the first astronauts to fly jets at supersonic speeds. These test pilots made historic flights starting in the late 1940s right through to the first U.S. orbiting of the Earth in the early 1960s. Overall, this character-driven film attempts to demonstrate whether or not the first astronauts had “the right stuff” to fly into space.

Now that humanity has developed the ability to fly into space, it won’t be long before commercial flights into orbit begin to happen. Let’s assume that you have “the right stuff” for the high-speed trek to the ISS. Do you think you have “the right stuff” to live in space?

Life in Space

EATING – Astronauts eat mostly moist and sticky foot (like oatmeal) because dry food (like cookies and bread) can cause particles to float around and contaminate the weightless environment. Astronauts can still use utensils to eat if they want and individual astronauts can pick certain foods before they leave for their mission. Many also secure their arms because the SLEEPING – This can be a difficult prospect sensation of having their arms floating away on the ISS. Since the ISS orbits the Earth 16 from the body can be disruptive to a restful times a day, astronauts are never really sure sleep. what time it is. Imagine experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets over the course of a normal day. To EXERCISING – Astronauts aboard the ISS combat these constant changes, ISS crew need to exercise for at least two hours per day. members follow Greenwich Mean Time and are They need to exercise because living in scheduled for 8.5 hours of sleep a day (with microgravity can cause muscles to shrink and most opting to sleep around six hours). bone density to lessen (bone density can Astronauts use sleeping bags and secure decrease by as much as six per cent on a six- themselves to the spacecraft with restraints so month mission). Experts note that astronauts that they don’t float around while sleeping. will recover most of what they lose once they return to Earth, but a lack of exercise would make their recovery a lot more arduous and potentially dangerous.

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FEBRUARY 2013 — CHRIS HADFIELD: RETURN TO SPACE

HYGIENE – The water supply on the ISS is GOING TO THE BATHROOM – This is the extremely limited so astronauts use it sparingly. greatest hygiene challenge for an astronaut. Instead of showering, they give themselves They use a special toilet for bowel movements sponge baths. They use no-rinse shampoos and that vacuums the waste into a waste rub the shampoo into their scalp with a towel. compartment. They have to use restraints so they When they brush their teeth, they spit the excess don’t float while using the toilet. When they paste and saliva into a towel. When they shave, urinate, they use a cup-like device that vacuums most use an electric razor. Astronauts have to be the urine into a waste compartment. extremely careful that hair doesn’t float away Source: The Canadian Space Agency from them when they are cleaning themselves asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/living.asp because the hair can clog air filters and disrupt air circulation on the ISS.

To Consider

1. What do you think? Could you handle a trip to the ISS? How long would you stay if you went?

2. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has volunteered to take part in a trip to Mars. The mission would take two years to complete. How challenging would it be for Hadfield to stay healthy while on this lengthy expedition?

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