Final Orbit

Chris Hadfield

Oct 2025 · The Apollo Murders Series Book 3 · Random House Canada

About this ebook

A #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER.

From the #1 bestselling author and astronaut Chris Hadfield, an edge-of-your-seat thriller set about China's secret role in the 1970s Space Race between the US and the USSR.

Houston, 1975. A new Apollo mission launches into orbit, on course to dock with a Russian Soyuz craft: three NASA astronauts and three cosmonauts, joining to celebrate a new dawn of Soviet-American cooperation. But as NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis listens in from Earth, a deadly accident changes everything.

Meanwhile, from a remote location in East Asia, the first Chinese spacecraft secretly launches. On board is China’s first astronaut, Fang Guojun, whose mission puts him on a collision course with the Apollo crew. As Kaz races against an enemy on the ground and for answers beyond the sky, the safety of the remaining crew hangs in the balance…

Full of intrigue and real history—including the fascinating story of Professor Tsien Hsue-shen, the “Father of Chinese Rocketry” and founder of China’s space program—Final Orbit accelerates to a thrilling conclusion that captures the beauty and terror of survival 270 miles above Earth, as could only be written by one of the most experienced astronauts alive.

Ratings and reviews

Got the hard cover copy but I must say Chris really knows his stuff and has done his homework. A truely exhilarating read that had me on the edge of mu seat, so descriptive I felt I was in the capsule with them 10/10 great job

Fast-paced whodunnit in the style of Dan Brown. A few twists and turns and decent character development, even though they play second-fiddle to the action-packed story.

About the author

CHRIS HADFIELD is one of the most experienced and accomplished astronauts in the world. A veteran of three space flights, Hadfield crewed the US Space Shuttle twice, piloted the Russian Soyuz, helped build space station Mir, conducted two space walks and served as Commander of the International Space Station. He was also NASA’s Director of Operations in Russia. Hadfield’s debut novel, The Apollo Murders, became an instant #1 bestseller in Canada, as did his second, The Defector. His first work of nonfiction, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, his photo book, You Are Here, and his children’s book, The Darkest Dark, also debuted at #1, remaining on the lists for months, and went on to become international bestsellers. Hadfield is the co-creator and host of the BBC series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? and helped create and host, along with actor Will Smith, the National Geographic series One Strange Rock. His zero-gravity version of David Bowie's “Space Oddity” has received more than 50 million views, and his TED talk on fear, over 10 million. Hadfield advises SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and other space companies, chairs the board of the Open Lunar Foundation, leads the CDL-Space international tech incubator, and teaches a MasterClass on space operations.