Being a cool guy is great. You know what's better? Being a cool guy...in space. That was what astronaut Chris Hadfield did in 2013, commanding the International Space Station for the early part of the year. In running the ISS Hadfield engaged people around the world in unprecedented ways, using outlets like Twitter and YouTube to share pictures, videos, and music from his time floating in orbit. Like we've never seen before, Hadfield made science cool. He took the time to answer questions and interact with people in unheard-of fashion, demonstrating things like sleeping, crying, and even vomiting in space. He routinely captured the wonders of Earth and transmitted them back for all to see, and saw his celebrity balloon to incredible proportions as a result. He even took time for a Reddit AMA while he was in space. Since landing back on terra firma, Hadfield has engaged in something of a victory lap. He's made countless public appearances since announcing his retirement from the space program, and has a book presently available as well. In terms of owning 2013, no one did better than Chris Hadfield in terms of accomplishing incredible, meaningful things.
Freelance writer situated on the east coast of Canada. Ten years writing pop culture, sports, news, and anything else that people will read. Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder!
