City News

Have you ever wondered what the life of an astronaut is like? In his autobiography, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, author and veteran astronaut Chris Hadfield chronicles his life both on Earth and in space. Hadfield gives a detailed view into the behind-the-scenes life of an astronaut, from long years of training to exciting spacewalks. He also shows what it takes to become an astronaut and succeed in a very high-stakes environment.  

Growing up in Canada, Hadfield originally believed that his lifelong goal of becoming an astronaut was impossible. At the time, the Canadian Space Agency played a little role in the space race and employed few astronauts. The first Canadian astronaut did not even go to space until 1984 when Hadfield was 25 years old. Despite these odds, Hadfield continued to pursue the career path of an astronaut.  

After high school, Hadfield joined the Canadian Armed Forces and eventually graduated top of his class at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He then continued his education as a pilot and got a degree in mechanical engineering. Then, in the back of a newspaper, Hadfield saw a job advertisement for astronauts at the Candian Space Agency and a chance to make his lifelong dream come true. With the blessing of his wife, Helene, Hadfield applied for this job and was accepted to begin training out of a pool of over 5,300 applicants.  

Hadfield’s career soared after his original astronaut training. Over his 21 years as an astronaut, he has spent a total of 166 days in space, served as the Director of NASA Operations in Star City, been the Chief of Robotics at Johnson Space Center in Houston, and been the Chief of International Space Station Operations. With this impressive list of offices, Hadfield is one of the most accomplished astronauts in the world.  

Throughout the book, Hadfield also gives readers life advice that even applies to everyday situations. One of his biggest messages in the book is to “sweat the small stuff”. Hadfield explains that readers should pay attention to the small and seemingly insignificant details in their lives. As an astronaut, Hadfield must worry about every little thing that could go wrong during a mission. Another piece of advice that Hadfield gives is “aim to be a zero”. Although this may seem counterintuitive, Hadfield explains that getting a rocket off the ground, and many other things in life, requires a large team of people. He recommends that it is better to be a team player than arrogant. As an astronaut, Hadfield explains that the work of engineers often goes unnoticed. The astronauts simply execute their missions while the engineers have to build the rockets and guide them from the ground.  

Overall, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is a must-read for anyone interested in space. Hadfield does an excellent job of relating to his readers with his life advice as well as providing interesting anecdotes about being an astronaut. Also, a full section of photographs paired with detailed descriptions gives readers the ability to visualize what life would be like living in space. 

Check out An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth from the Newport Beach Public Library.