CELEBRATED astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield has told how being in orbit last year did not prevent him from celebrating a traditional Christmas.
The Canadian famed for chronicling life aboard the International Space Station via social media told pupils at an Edinburgh school how his temporary home was decked out with stockings and a tree - hanging from the ceiling.
Students at Liberton High School were captivated by the astronaut's tales, including the difficulty of tying a shoe lace in space and the delights of rehydrated pizza slices for dinner.
The Commander said: "We had stockings that we hung up around the space station and we had a Christmas tree hanging down from the ceiling. We had a guitar up there so we sang Christmas carols.It was nice - it wasn't a normal Christmas, but it was sort of like Christmas."
The 54-year-old returned from his final space mission earlier this year, after serving as Commander of the International Space Station.
He became an internet hit with his cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity recorded in space.
The clip has had 19 million views on YouTube and he has more than a million Twitter followers.
Head teacher Stephen Kelly told students: "I think he's the most famous astronaut in the world, particularly famous for promoting science through social media.
"I also think he took the world's best 'selfie' from orbit, with the planet earth behind him."
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