Oftentimes in philosophy, the goal is to zoom out and a grasp of the bigger picture. There are few people alive who can say that they have done this in the literal sense. Chris Hadfield is one of them: a Canadian astronaut, Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, and test pilot, Chris once served as the commander of the International Space Station, before turning to writing fiction later in life.
You may also recognise him as the star of the only music video ever shot somewhere other than Planet Earth.
I wanted to speak with Chris about why some people believe we have lost interest in space travel, and to talk about our reasons for going there in the first place (beyond just going because it is hard). I also wanted to learn about the current state of international cooperation on unearthly affairs. More than this, I want to know how an Air-Force-trained, seasoned pilot of extreme vehicles deals with the fear involved in such a dangerous line of work. Does he feel it? Can it be simply overcome?
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Have We Lost Interest in Space Travel?
3:56 - What Is There To Learn In Space?
12:01 - Is Space Exploration National Or Global?
16:05 - Will Civilians Need Training To Go To Space?
20:40 - The Psychological Challenges of Space Exploration
24:33 - Are Astronauts Thrill Seekers?
32:38 - Writing Fiction As An Astronaut
41:03 - How Chris Became a Novelist
48:37 - The Biggest Risk Chris Has Ever Taken
51:14 - How Chris Tackles Fear
