Commander Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut, returned home on 14 May. He rerecorded David Bowie’s Space Oddity in flight… and describes the landing.
David Bowie
(and Chris Hadfield’s changes)
Ground control to Major Tom
Ground control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills (lock your Soyuz hatch) and put your helmet on
Ground control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition (Detach from station) and may God’s love be with you
This is ground control to Major Tom, you’ve really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it’s time to leave (guide) the capsule if you dare
This is major Tom to ground control, I’m stepping through the door (I’ve left forever more)
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do (left to do)
Though I’m past (I’ve flown) one hundred thousand miles, I’m feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
(and before too long I know it’s time to go)
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows
(a commander comes back to Earth and knows)
Ground control to Major Tom,
your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong
(the time is near, it’s not too long)
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you…
Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon (a last glimpse of the world)
Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do (left to do)
