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‘We have liftoff! God Speed @Cmdr_Hadfield!’

Ten, nine, eight … tweet: Astronaut chronicles countdown to space

@Cmdr_Hadfield prepares for lift off

Chris Hadfield is about to become the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. In the days before his Dec. 19 launch he’s been busy documenting his preparations in 140-character bursts:

Storified by Maclean’s Magazine · Wed, Dec 19 2012 07:08:09

Bobblehead Astronauts – each of us now has the complete set. Not much good in weightlessness, but fun on Earth :) http://pic.twitter.com/gFEh9N3WChris Hadfield
Enemas and Barf Bags – the less glamorous side of spaceflight :) From today’s medical briefings in quarantine. http://pic.twitter.com/sgfdkRDcChris Hadfield
Cosmonaut Breakfast in Quarantine: omelet, bacon, mustard, red caviar. http://pic.twitter.com/x6OBusZ8Chris Hadfield
Space Accidents – 1-page summary from X-15 to Vostok to ISS. Worth understanding. http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/JSC-Flight-Safety-Office-graphics-of-all-incidents.jpg http://pic.twitter.com/Cd9Fz4NeChris Hadfield
Aliens Exist! At least on this Christmas tree :) Good morning to all, from Kazakhstan, 1 week to launch. http://pic.twitter.com/5xxMBQu3Chris Hadfield
There is an unbelievable thrill in getting into your own spaceship. This is the same hatch we’ll use on the launch pad. http://pic.twitter.com/d5cM3GbqChris Hadfield
Pressure Suit – I trust my life to this bubble of plexiglass, hand-sewn suit & the craftspeople who put it together. http://pic.twitter.com/8ShT1JZVChris Hadfield
Hatch to Another World – what it looks like to climb into a Soyuz spaceship. We then crawl down into our seats. http://pic.twitter.com/VJGOC8K3Chris Hadfield
How Astronauts Relax in Quarantine – for the real Russian billiards players, how’s my technique? http://pic.twitter.com/f3x4GrRwChris Hadfield
What are 10 Songs you’d Take to Space with you? Here’s my list, plus Ed Robertson’s and Bob McDonald’s: http://music.cbc.ca/#/Radio2/blogs/2012/12/Chris-Hadfield-Ed-Robertson-and-Bob-McDonald-share-playlists-to-prep-for-spaceChris Hadfield
Early Christmas – prime & backup crews at the Cosmodrome museum. It’s beginning to look a lot like … spaceflight! http://pic.twitter.com/QpVosIfXChris Hadfield
It takes these 32 engines to get these 3 humans safely above the air. And that’s just the start. http://pic.twitter.com/fw6glqLjChris Hadfield
Soyuz Docking Sim on a Laptop – what we train with in Quarantine; left joystick is for moving, right for turning. http://pic.twitter.com/RgQrOe1lChris Hadfield
Just watched the Station fly over, with my family, after celebrating Christmas together in Quarantine (not too close!). Very special.Chris Hadfield
Up early, can hear the wind blowing. It’s 30 below as they roll the rocket on its carrier train to the launch pad. Stay warm, launch guests!Chris Hadfield
My kids brought me a Yule Tree that plugs into a USB port. Perfect for the Christmas traveler who has to pack light. http://pic.twitter.com/hrLQV7RLChris Hadfield
Soyuz Rescue – 8 planes, 13 helicopters and a ship wait along our launch track, from here to Japan, just in case. http://pic.twitter.com/HCzeFPubChris Hadfield
Up early, can hear the wind blowing. It’s 30 below as they roll the rocket on its carrier train to the launch pad. Stay warm, launch guests!Chris Hadfield
How cold was it at rocket roll-out this morning? My son took this portrait of his wife. http://pic.twitter.com/6qkbsMBtChris Hadfield
My Soyuz Checklists – from L to R: Launch/Entry, Malfunctions, Orbital Flight. Colour-coded for easy spaceflight. http://pic.twitter.com/kruQvFQaChris Hadfield
Our rocket rode to the launch pad on a rail. Fill ‘er up, please, we have a long trip planned. http://pic.twitter.com/SAPMDCtCChris Hadfield
Quarantine Guitar – got medical clearance to play some songs with brother Dave, just 24 hrs ’til launch. Very special. http://pic.twitter.com/dI0dzNoAChris Hadfield
Feel what Launch is like – a couple videos worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/user/canadianspaceagencyChris Hadfield
RT @Astro_Jeremy: @Cmdr_Hadfield ‘s kids already completed suit up 4 launch. To say that we are all excited would be an understatement! http://pic.twitter.com/ByshxkKuRicardo D. González
Haircut for Space Travel – Tatiana got cleared to come into Quarantine. Next barber will be Tom with a vacuum cleaner. http://pic.twitter.com/0bVkhUPoChris Hadfield
One last kiss before I go – love under glass with my wife. It’s launch morning, I slept well, feel great. 10 hrs until! http://pic.twitter.com/u7S8i3RFChris Hadfield
Just took my last hot shower for 5 months. I lingered …Chris Hadfield
A Little Launch Music – same as 11 years ago, I played just before heading to space. Day to Day, by Stan Rogers. http://pic.twitter.com/aMhiNDfaChris Hadfield
RT @Astro_DavidS: @Cmdr_Hadfield and his crewmates leaving for the launchpad in Baikonur. Soyuz launch at 0712 ET! http://pic.twitter.com/YCW4AxjIRandy Attwood
RT @ShuttleAlmanac: Rare view a Canadian flag on the pad at Baikonour @csa_asc @Cmdr_Hadfield is aboard, eh ! http://spaceshuttlealmanac.com http://twitpic.com/bn6u9pWindlord
We have liftoff! God Speed @Cmdr_Hadfield!CanadianSpaceAgency
Amazing launch this (Canadian) morning. Congrats to @Cmdr_Hadfield and crew. Is he playing sudoku during launch? http://pic.twitter.com/ivLSTY0cStompn_Tom

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