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CAPCOM: CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield

On July 20, 1969, the world listened in on what has become perhaps the most famous conversation from space. It was between NASA's Mission Control in Houston, and Neil Armstrong, Commander of the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander, the first words ever transmitted to Earth from the surface of the Moon:

Cmdr. Armstrong: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." Mission Control: "Roger, Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot."

During STS-90, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield was one of the direct voice links between Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, and his orbiting colleagues in the space shuttle.

From the moment the giant solid rocket boosters ignited at liftoff until after the landing gear wheels rolled to a stop at the end of the flight, Mission Control was the hub of communication and support for Columbia.

The critical role Chris Hadfield played during the mission is known as "CAPCOM", or Capsule Communicator, a holdover from the earlier days when spacecraft were known as capsules. All CAPCOMs are veterans of space flight, bringing their first-hand operational experience to the Mission Control team.

CAPCOMs report directly to the Flight Director who is responsible for the overall shuttle mission, payload operations, and all decisions regarding safe, successful flight conduct. During the flight, the CAPCOMs used their best judgment to decide how and when information should be passed along to the STS-90 crew.

Chris Hadfield was a member of one of five teams manning Mission Control throughout STS-90. Four of the teams worked on a rotational basis around the clock in nine-hour shifts, while the fifth managed liftoff and landing.

In addition to his CAPCOM responsibilities during Mission STS-90, Chris Hadfield is also in training to install the first element of Canada's contribution to the International Space Station during Mission STS-100. Scheduled for launch in 2000, STS-100 will mark a major milestone in the history of Canada's Space Program. Astronaut Hadfield, the first Canadian to go to Mir (STS-74), will also be the first Canadian to venture outside the orbiter where he will perform three space walks, one of which will be to install the 17-meter-long Canadian-built robotic arm. Once installed, the new arm will be used to assemble and service the International Space Station, which will eventually cover an area as large as a football field.