As the first Canadian astronaut to helm the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield has done a lot of thinking about what it will take for humans to live in space long-term. NASA, Russia, China and even Elon Musk's SpaceX are talking about sending astronauts to Mars in the 2030s, and—given that it's Canada's 150th anniversary, a good time to take stock of where we're going—we were curious about how this country can contribute to humanity's future in space.

MOTHERBOARD: What skills does a leader need to manage astronauts at a future space settlement?
Chris Hadfield: From a pure leadership point-of-view, I think you need, above all, technical competence. You can't get help from anyone. You get advice, but it's not the same. The second is—under the broad brush of interpersonal skills—what are the strengths and weaknesses of a group of human beings [you are managing], and how you can help them face the issues, no matter what?