Canadian astronaut tweets William Shatner from space

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has attracted the attention of Star Trek actor William Shatner by tweeting images of space from orbit.

Currently aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, Hadfield is at the start of a five month mission.

Tweeting images of the earth from space, his Twitter account (@CmdrHadfield))) began to attract attention, and his Twitter follower count rocketed.

As well as conducting science experiments, testing new technologies, and carrying out spacewalks, Hadfield plans to record songs from space, practicing on his guitar in the Station's domed observation deck.

But it's his Twitter posts that have attracted the most attention, including that of Star Trek actor William Shatner who tweeted: "Are you tweeting from space?"

And it's not just the Star Trek generation who have been tweeting. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin has also been taking part in the discussion.

Hadfield has earned distinctions as the first Canadian to operate the Space shuttle's Canadarm in space and the nation's first to walk in space.

He is also the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station.