Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield Performs Bowie's 'Space Oddity' Aboard ISS

ISS Commander Chris Hadfield has shown himself to be a real Renaissance Man. The first Canadian to command the station, who was set to return to Earth Monday aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, has performed a rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" while aboard the orbiting outpost.

The video, which is available on YouTube, shows Hadfield playing a guitar aboard the station to what has to be a karaoke track of the song, and proves himself to be a pretty accomplished guitarist and singer. The video features plenty of images of Earth from the station, and Hadfield handling a guitar in a way that could only be accomplished in microgravity.

Hadfield has been credited with sparking renewed interest in Canada's space program, taking a call from notable fictional space explorer William Shater, and engaging in a Twitter exchange with Leonard Nimoy ... Star Trek's original Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.

The CBC reports that the video has already drawn over a million views on YouTube. Andrew Tidby, who helped produce the video, said the project was Hadfield's idea. While working with Tidby on a series with the National Film Board and NASA, Hadfield said he wanted to make the first music video in space. ISS crewmembers have limited free time on their schedule, so the video was shot in segments. The result is quickly going viral.

Tidby told the CBC that the goal is to "take out (PSY's) 'Gangnam Style' pretty soon with a billion hits."

There are a couple of modifications of the lyrics, which make reference to the Soyuz spacecraft on which Hadfield traveled to the station, and on which he returned Monday night.

They've probably got a pretty good shot at that billion-view goal, and we're happy to pass along the link.

(Image from YouTube video)

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