Astronauts aboard the International Space Station joined millions of fans on Earth in paying tribute to the late singer David Bowie, who succumbed to cancer on January 10. With hits like “Starman” and “Space Oddity,” Bowie’s music held special meaning for those in orbit.
British astronaut Tim Peake wrote on Twitter:
spacerocks.6 🎵Look out your window I can see his light, if we can sparkle he may land tonight🎵
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) January 11, 2016
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who shot to fame in 2013 for his zero-gravity cover of David Bowie‘s 1969 hit “Space Oddity,” recorded when Hadfield was aboard the space station, had this to say:
Ashes to ashes, dust to stardust. Your brilliance inspired us all. Goodbye Starman. pic.twitter.com/FbcxlAzces
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) January 11, 2016
The video, which shows Hadfield floating in space while singing the song and playing the guitar, received more than 23 million views and was deemed the “first viral hit from space.”
You can watch the video below.