Chris Hadfield signs book deal

Canada’s favourite (former) astronaut Chris Hadfield is writing a book, which will be published this fall.

The book, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, will be released on Oct. 29, 2013, Random House Canada said in a release July 2.

“Chris has a delightful capacity to bring home the fascinating details of what it takes to be an astronaut and what it’s like to live in microgravity, and then to dig deeper into all the surprising training and lessons learned that help him, and the whole astronaut corps, do the impossible as if it’s another day at work,” said Knopf Random Canada Publishing Group publisher Anne Collins in a release. “On top of that, he might be the best witness we’ve ever had to the wonders of space, the fragility and beauty of our planet, and the necessity to keep pushing the envelope of space exploration.”

Hadfield became the first Canadian to command the International Space Station earlier this year. He gained more than a million followers on Twitter during his five months in space, as he shared observations, sent out amazing photos from above the Earth and even sang a version of David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity” while aboard the space station.

Hadfield announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency in June. He hasn’t announced immediate plans for another career, through it seems he will now be able to add the title “author” to his resume.

The announcement of the book deal comes a day Hadfield gave a Canada Day performance, signing the original song “Is Somebody Singing,” alongside Barnaked Ladies member Ed Robertson on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Tattoo is on my guitar-playing Canadarm :) pic.twitter.com/tR1Io0OMfW

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) July 1, 2013