How Chris Hadfield brought space travel back to us Earthlings Cmdr Hadfield tweeted his final photograph: "Tonight's Finale: Boston, you're a beautiful harbor city. Hope your Bruins play a memorable game tonight vs the Leafs As Hadfield himself put it: "For most people, the highest they ever get is to climb a mountain or get in an airplane to see what lies beyond the normal two dimensions on the surface of the world. I have the opportunity to get as far away as we are here and to go around the world every 90 minutes. Despite the popularity of the images he regularly sends back, it has been his 60 or so videos posted onto YouTube by the Canadian Space Agency that have been the real success. In them he has taught the world about why a candle burns with a round flame in zero gravity, why tears do not fall in space and how astronauts shave. He has conducted mini-experiments that would appear mundane back here on Earth - such as wringing out a soaking wet cloth - which have fascinated and delighted viewers in equal measure. Hadfield has even taught us how to prepare a sandwich in zero gravity and the importance of not making crumbs. All have been delivered with a microphone floating freely in front of his face and a charismatic grin beneath his neat moustache. He clearly loves what he has been doing - performing mid air spins and pirouettes as he talks. The novelty of living without gravity has not worn off. The hour or so he spends making videos each evening give him a welcome break from the packed work schedule that he and the other five members of the crew have while on board the space station. Yet, Cmdr Hadfield's charm and easy way with the camera are not the whole story behind his success. Long before setting off on this expedition to the space station, officials at the Canadian Space Agency were preparing him for fame. Recognising his ability to explain complex issues easily, they gave him a video camera several years ago and asked him to begin practicing with it through his training. Since he has been at the space station, a team back in Quebec have been dreaming up ideas for him to talk about, experiments for him to perform and writing scripts for the dozens of videos he has produced. A professional editing team have polished the footage he has sent back, setting his antics to zany music and with fun graphics. His final video dispatch from the Space Station was a cover of the David Bowie song Space Oddity. The music video, believed to be the first filmed in space, shows Cmdr Hadfield floating through various parts of the space station and playing his guitar along to a backing track. Together, what Cmdr Hadfield and his team have achieved is to bring the space station alive for those back on Earth. They have transformed the ISS from being a sprawling £84 billion laboratory where just an elite few who travel, into a place of wonderment - a playground where all the things we take for granted can be turned on their head. Being able to share in just a part of that through Cmdr Hadfield's videos has somehow helped to make the enormous building and running costs of the space station easier to swallow. It has given the world the chance to be part of something very special.