The perfect tribute to David Bowie: an astronaut playing “Space Oddity” in space

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield spent five months in space — a time in which he gained international fame for his extensive use of social media while floating above Earth. But one of his most impressive accomplishments was his cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” — not only the first full music video recording in space, but a cover Bowie called “possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created.”

Hadfield’s cover departs from Bowie’s original in a few ways. While Bowie’s song is about an astronaut who is seemingly on the verge of a death far away from home, Hadfield’s is about an astronaut who’s on the verge of returning home. (Which makes sense, since Hadfield recorded the song right before returning from the International Space Station.)

But it’s a beautiful, inspiring cover. One day after Bowie’s death at the age of 69, it’s one way to pay tribute to the legendary artist.