Astronaut's homage to Bowie from space is a web hit

An astronaut has said goodbye to life on the International Space Station by making a cover version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

Commander Chris Hadfield has built up more than 790,000 followers on Twitter by posting photographs of the Earth from space.

But the music video could prove to be his most popular contribution yet.

The Canadian, who will fly home today as his five-month mission comes to an end, is shown playing an acoustic guitar and singing Bowie’s classic Space Oddity.

The astronaut wrote on Twitter: “With deference to the genius of David Bowie, here’s Space Oddity, recorded on Station. A last glimpse of the World.”

Bowie replied: “Hallo Spaceboy.”

Before going into orbit, Cmdr Hadfield said playing music was important in taking care of the “psychological side” of living in space.

In February he sent a message from space to veteran wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

The astronaut asked: ”If you had an evening to spend here on the space station, how would you spend it?”

Sir David replied: ”I’d just sit and watch the Earth go by – it’s a perspective I’ve never had.”