"To have this opportunity is extremely challenging, extremely exciting for me and extremely rewarding as well," Hadfield told a news conference Thursday at the Canadian Space Agency in Longueuil, Que.

"It's still over two years away. I still have to pass two more of the toughest physicals of anybody on Earth before they'll let me get into that Soyuz and go dock at the space station."

Hadfield, who was first selected to become an astronaut in June 1992, will be one of six crew members.

"To be trusted with their lives and with that entire station on behalf of all the world's space-faring nations, most specifically on behalf of Canada, is a tremendous honour."

Hadfield travelled to the International Space Station in April 2001 to help deliver and install Canadarm2. He also performed two space walks during the 11-day flight.

In May of this year, the 18-year space veteran commanded NEEMO 14, a two-week underwater mission for NASA off the coast of Florida.