Space oddity: astronaut Chris Hadfieldâs flight suit bought in vintage store
Call it a cosmic connection.
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s flight suit mysteriously shows up in local thrift shop, where it languishes unnoticed.
A space medical researcher on her lunch break happens to see it. And buys it for $40.
“Apparently it was there for some time, because it was on sale, 50 per cent off,” said Dr. Julielynn Wong, who picked up the bargain earlier this month at Public Butter, a Queen St. W. vintage clothing store.
She still can’t believe her good fortune.
“I kept the price tag on because it’s a good laugh,” she said Friday. “You see it’s $80 and then it goes down to $40.”
Wong knew it was a real flight suit because she has one herself from a stint running simulated Mars missions at the Ontario Science Centre Challenger Learning Centre. (She currently works with 3D printers designing medical equipment for use in remote locations, including space.)
All the same, Wong — who trained in space medicine at the Johnson Space Center in Texas in 2012 when Hadfield was there — admits she was skeptical when she saw his name emblazoned on the front.
She inspected the flight suit more closely and noticed how the badges were worn and became more convinced. “And then I thought, I know Chris. Why don’t I just ask him?”
After an exchange of Facebook messages and photos, Hadfield confirmed it was his suit — but the former astronaut was just as surprised as Wong about where it had turned up.
“Maybe it inadvertently got put in a donations bag or something. I’ll ask my family and staff,” he informed her. “Glad you ended up with it — especially on sale.”
Hadfield gave one of his flight suits to the Ontario Science Centre, which has it on display. But Wong, who is launching a new 3D printing activity at the centre, is thrilled to have her own.
“I can bring it out and share it with people. They can touch it and take “selfies” with it,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to inspire the next generation of space pioneers.”
