Science Quickly Chris Hadfield’s Fictional Universe Is Rooted in Real Space History
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Oct 8, 2025 Former astronaut Chris Hadfield shares insights into his transition from space to the written word. He discusses how his extensive experience in spaceflight informs his fiction, particularly in his upcoming novel Final Orbit, a Cold War thriller. Hadfield delves into the fascinating real historical figures woven into his narrative, from Nixon to Chinese space pioneers. He also highlights the eerie parallels between 1970s geopolitics and today's landscape, encouraging readers to reflect on history's impact on the present.
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Career Arc From Astronaut To Author
- Chris Hadfield served 21 years as an astronaut and flew in space three times, including commanding a spacecraft and doing spacewalks.
- He retired after 35 years of government service and now runs a technology incubator and has written multiple books.
From Engineering Student To Fiction Writer
- Hadfield always loved writing but studied engineering so he could pursue a career as an astronaut and command spacecraft.
- After nonfiction books, he challenged himself to write fiction and created the Apollo Murders series now translated into many languages.
Experience Makes Fiction Credible
- Hadfield draws on a lifetime of direct experience, including operational roles in Russia and mission control, to make his fiction factually rich.
- He combines heavy research with personal memories to make near‑real alternative history plausible and engaging.
