Photos: Chris Hadfield, Canada's Star Astronaut, Hometown Visit

Welcome Sign

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

A sign in Sarnia, Ont. welcomes Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield back to his hometown.

Chris Hadfield At Book Signing

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (left) shakes hands with Heather Bieke, a Detroit resident who arrived at his Nov. 23, 2013 Sarnia, Ont. book signing at 3 a.m. – nine hours before Hadfield.

Chris Hadfield With Young Fan

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Star astronaut Chris Hadfield returned to his hometown of Sarnia, Ont. and was greeted by a party. Face painting, balloons and crowds met the Canadian who became world-famous for his social media exploits and guitar playing during Expeditions 34 and 35 in 2012 and 2013.

While Hadfield was on site at the Nov. 23, 2013 event, he met with a local body paint artist who made several pieces based on his pictures from orbit. Hadfield also shook hands and signed books for an estimated 1,000 fans who lined up to meet him.

Hadfield chats with a young fan at an event in Sarnia, Ont., Nov. 23, 2013 in this image.

Cat Cabajar And Painting

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Sarnia, Ont. body paint artist Cat Cabajar poses with one of her pieces, inspired by pictures taken by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield during his 2012-13 space mission.

Cat Cabajar And Models

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Cat Cabajar, an artist from Sarnia, Ont., works on a body art painting on Nov. 23, 2013.

Winnipeg Moustache

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Framed on a picture of Winnipeg, Man. taken by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, the Red River appears to run like a large moustache underneath this model's nose. Art by Sarnia, Ont. artist Cat Cabajar.

Moustached Inspiration

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Lily Johnson, 7, wearing facepaint inspired by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield at a book signing Nov. 23, 2013. At right is a balloon with Hadfield's face.

Chris Hadfield And Cat Cabajar

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield arrives with Sarnia, Ont. body paint artist Cat Cabajar at a book signing, Nov. 23, 2013. Cabajar received a $1,000 grant for pictures based on Hadfield's pictures from orbit.

Sarnia Crowds For Chris Hadfield

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

Organizers were expecting 1,000 people for a Nov. 23, 2013 book signing by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield in Sarnia, Ont. - population 72,000.

Hadfield Avatar Playing Guitar

Elizabeth Howell for SPACE.com

An avatar of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield hangs out in Degroots Nurseries, a few feet from where Hadfield himself was doing a book signing on Nov, 23, 2013.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace