53-year-old Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to command the International Space Station, says he is making good on a promise to his wife to move back to Canada after 30 years.
The Ontario-native who sang David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' in space, will retire on July 3 from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and move home from the US.
Hadfield gained international prominence during his recent six-month trip to the ISS, where he used social media to share experiments and photographs.
He has lived in Texas since he became a fighter pilot in the late-1980s and was later assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston by the CSA.
"I've had such an interesting career and after 35 years it's time to step down. I'm the last astronaut of my class that's still around," Hadfield was quoted as saying by the CBC.
He said he had no immediate plans on his next move, especially as he works on physically recovering from his time in space.
"His exceptional career achievements make him a true Canadian hero and icon," Alexander added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
