Thrift stores are full of surprises—some bizarre, some delightful. One day, you might find a vintage designer coat for a fraction of the price.
Another day?
You might stumble upon an actual flight suit worn by a real astronaut.
That’s exactly what happened to Julielynn Wong, a Toronto resident who casually picked up a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) flight suit at a local thrift store.
The price?
A mere $40.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting.
This wasn’t just any old jumpsuit—it had a name embroidered on the chest: Chris Hadfield.
Yes, that Chris Hadfield.
The legendary Canadian astronaut, former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), and the man who serenaded Earth with a zero-gravity cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.
Naturally, Wong was stunned.
“My jaw just dropped. I said, ‘I can’t believe it.'” – Wong told CBC News.
But was it really Hadfield’s suit?
And how on Earth did it end up in a thrift store?
The Investigation Begins
Skeptical but hopeful, Wong did what any of us would do in her situation: she sent Hadfield a message.
After all, the suit had his name right there on it.
Hadfield’s response?
He was just as baffled as she was.
“It’s a mystery,” he admitted.
But the real twist came when his son, Evan Hadfield, chimed in.
It turns out, while moving from Texas back to Canada, the Hadfield family accidentally donated the wrong box of clothes to charity.
“We accidentally donated the wrong box to charity on our move back to Canada, it appears,” Evan wrote on Reddit.
“We’re not even sure which box it was that got donated. Moving 20+ years worth of stuff from Texas to Toronto immediately after returning from space has a way of losing track of some things.”
So, just like that, a genuine astronaut’s flight suit ended up in a secondhand store—waiting for someone like Wong to uncover its incredible backstory.
Wait… Astronauts Lose Their Stuff?
At this point, you might be wondering: how does someone misplace a spacesuit?
We tend to think of astronauts as hyper-organized, highly disciplined individuals—trained to operate in zero gravity, survive high-speed re-entry, and conduct complex experiments in space.
Surely, keeping track of their earthly possessions should be easy, right?
But this assumption ignores a crucial detail: astronauts live a highly unconventional life.
- They train for years before even setting foot on a spacecraft.
- Their schedules are packed with simulations, technical briefings, and survival training.
- And when they finally go to space? Returning to Earth isn’t as simple as unpacking your suitcase.
Hadfield’s return from the ISS was no exception.
He spent five months in orbit aboard the ISS, logging nearly 2,600 orbits around Earth and traveling over 70 million miles.
When he finally returned, he had to undergo months of physical rehabilitation to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
With so much going on, it’s no surprise that a few personal items—like a flight suit—could accidentally get mixed up in a moving box.
The Significance of the Flight Suit
At this point, you might be thinking, Okay, but isn’t this just a uniform?
Not exactly. Flight suits hold deep significance in the world of astronauts.
1. They Represent a Career of Achievement
For astronauts, a flight suit is more than just clothing—it’s a symbol of years of dedication.
Hadfield, for example, trained for over a decade before his first spaceflight. Every mission required:
- Thousands of hours in simulators
- Survival training in extreme conditions
- Mastering Russian to work with cosmonauts
- Perfecting precision maneuvers for docking spacecraft
Every flight suit worn represents countless hours of preparation, discipline, and sacrifice.
2. They Are Highly Specialized Gear
Flight suits aren’t just for show. These fire-resistant, anti-static suits are designed to:
- Regulate body temperature during high-G maneuvers
- Protect astronauts in case of an emergency landing
- Be comfortable enough for long hours in training or flight
3. They’re Not Easy to Come By
Unlike NASA-branded hoodies you can buy at a gift shop, real astronaut flight suits are rare.
They aren’t mass-produced—they’re issued only to astronauts and trainees. Finding one in a thrift store is like stumbling upon a championship ring from an Olympic athlete.
What Happened to the Suit?
After confirming its authenticity, Wong did what any space-loving Canadian would do:
She returned the suit to Hadfield.
While some people might have tried to sell it or keep it as a souvenir, Wong understood its significance.
The Hadfield family was grateful to have it back—though, given its unexpected journey, they might double-check their moving boxes a little more carefully next time.
The Magic of Thrift Stores
At the end of the day, this is one of those stories that reminds us why thrift shopping is so much fun.
- You never know what you’ll find.
- Every item has a story.
- And sometimes, those stories are out of this world—literally.
So, next time you’re browsing through a secondhand store, keep your eyes open. You never know what piece of history might be sitting on the rack, waiting to be rediscovered.
