This is Ground Control to Planet Point

He's not David Bowie but Canadian astronaut Chris Hatfield's version of Major Tom confirms him as the coolest cat in space. This is a video to send shivers of thrills down the spine of the space generation.

I remember man on the moon,  but thanks to Commander Hatfield I now recall as a youngster gathering around the red public phonebox in the village and calling dial-a-disc (Kids, it was like i-tunes on the end of a piece of string and tincan, but in the 70s).

The first song we heard, as we passed the receiver around, was David Bowie's Space Oddity. It was a voice from a far off place, a message from Planet Pop to Point and I think that's why I find the song just as thrilling today.

The Commander of Expedition 35 on the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield,  returns to earth tomorrow after his five month mission. Godspeed to you.



I don't usually publish comments (I do like feedback , but life it too short and if people have strong opinions they can start their own blogs.) I make an exception for David Woods - he is the ultimate space cadet, NASA medal holder, and the author of a great book that demystifies it all called "How Apollo flew to the Moon". If I was going to the stars I'd insist on having David at Ground Control.