Tuesday Is Your Last Day to Watch Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s ‘Space Oddity’ YouTube Video

Daniel Bean
·Assistant Editor
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Looks like it’s time to contact ground control. One of this past year’s most popular YouTube videos is coming in for a landing.

Canadian astronaut (and musician) Chris Hadfield recorded his own music video version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” from his post inside the orbiting International Space Station. After being granted permission to release it last May on YouTube, the views began piling up and now sit at more than 22 million. But, sadly, as Hadfield announced on his Twitter feed this week, May 13 is the video’s last day online.

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Once Hadfield and his son (aka Hadfield’s social media go-to guy) decided to move forward with the “Space Oddity” music video project more than a year ago, the duo understood they would have to work out an agreement with Bowie and his representatives for rights to post Hadfield’s reworking on the Internet. (This despite the video being recorded in what one might think of as lawless outer space.)

According to The Economist, a yearlong online publishing deal was indeed reached, one that also included the addition of production polishing and instrument accompaniment by a former Bowie bandmate after the footage and basic music were sent from Hadfield’s tin can back to Earth.

But, alas, the fun is now all but over. So make sure to go check out the video while you still can, and “may God’s love be with you.”

Have questions, comments, or just want to tell me something funny? Email me at danbean@yahoo-inc.com.