Godspeed, Chris Hadfield

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield (bio) - who incidentally comes from Sarnia, just a bit down the road from London - makes history early tomorrow morning when he leaves the planet* along with two other members of his Expedition 34/35 team aboard a Soyuz rocket bound for the International Space Station.

The neat thing: Hadfield will next March become commander of the station, a first for any Canuck. Here's a guy who represents the best of what this country is capable of, not only in terms of absolute achievement, but also the spirit with which he's always carried himself. Listening to him speak, it's hard to come away from the experience and not want to push your own envelope just a little further.

Safe flight, Commander Hadfield. Canada's watching and cheering.

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Watch the launch live on SpaceflightNow. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:12 a.m. Eastern, Wednesday, December 19.