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The first British astronaut
Helen is a pioneer, role model, science communicator and world-class inspirational speaker.
She became the first British Astronaut in May 1991, aged 27, when she spent 8 days orbiting the Earth. A selection of testimonials about Helen appears at the end of this biography.
A superb speaker, Helen enthuses her audience about Space, STEM and the wonders of science. She takes them on her journey, as she describes aspects of the meticulous training, preparation, launch and landing, how weightlessness feels, her science experiments, the team spirit and readjusting to life back on Earth.
Invited to speak worldwide at corporate, public, government, academic and school events, her presentation can include a wide variety of topics including: Living in Space, astronaut training, teamwork, leadership, communication, collaboration and motivation (Note to Event Planners: not all these topics can fit into just one speech, in detail.)
Her presentation may include slides, some of which she took herself during her training and spaceflight.
Helen says “We should push forward, not only our individual boundaries, but also the boundaries of what humans believe is possible. People are the biggest limitations in our own lives. There’s a huge amount we can do and we should make the best use of our lives for the benefit of the world.”
Helen didn’t think she stood the smallest chance of being selected when she applied, after hearing an advert on the car radio on her way home from work. Over 13,000 other people also applied for this one-off opportunity. But Helen was exactly the type of person they were looking for – calm, practical, friendly, professional, a team player.
Two people were chosen for the rigorous training but only one – Helen – went into Space.
Before starting her training, Helen underwent the rigorous selection process with psychological and medical assessments, technical understanding and practical skills. This was followed by 18 months of intensive spaceflight training, which included learning Russian, preparing for “feeling weightless” and g-force, learning how to cope inside a cramped space capsule, how to deal with a landing in the sea and training for all possible scenarios (positive and negative) which might happen when in orbit, travelling at 17,500 miles an hour.
Helen carried out spacecraft operations during the launch. On board the Space Station, her tasks included medical, agricultural and chemical experiments, materials testing, Earth observation work and operating an amateur radio link with British school students. Media interviews were a frequent occurrence.
Coping with risk was a daily activity. Teamwork was a vital element for success.
Helen has not returned to space. But, like every other astronaut, she would love to go to space again, to experience the feeling of weightlessness, the camaraderie …. and the amazing and beautiful views of Earth and the stars.
After her successful spaceflight, Helen chose to become a science communicator and speaker. She has won numerous prizes for radio and TV programmes and for her inspirational talks on teamwork, STEM, science communication and motivation.
She often meets teachers who were inspired to study science after hearing her speak: her speech changed their lives, and now they pass on their passion and expertise to new generations of young scientists and engineers.
Helen was awarded the OBE in 1993. In the New Year Honours List 2018, she was further awarded a rare honour, being made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to Science and Technology Educational Outreach. She received the CMG from Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle in 2018. In October 2020, Helen celebrated Space Week at the National Space Centre, Leicester, with HRH The Countess of Wessex.
In his Foreword to Helen’s book Seize The Moment, Arthur C Clarke wrote: “Her account of the hours before the launch and the actual sensations during ascent into orbit is so gripping that any reader will feel a vicarious involvement. This is exactly what it must be like”.
On 15 December 2015, Britain’s second astronaut Major Tim Peake began his mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Helen joined Professor Brian Cox and Dara Ó’Briain on BBC TV’s Stargazing Live to follow the live docking of Tim’s rocket with the ISS. She was invited back on 18 June 2016 for Tim’s safe return to Earth.
In 2019, Helen was the UK’s go-to person for TV, radio and media comment on the first Lunar Landings (Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin: Apollo 11: 20 July 1969). When SpaceX launched in May 2020, Helen was invited by broadcasters for worldwide TV and radio interviews, to share her own insights and experience.
Helen Sharman received her BSc in Chemistry at Sheffield University. She worked in Research & Development for GEC before moving to Mars Confectionery as a Research Technologist working on chocolate and ice cream.
Later, Helen managed a research group at the National Physical Laboratory in London.
She now works part-time as the UK Outreach Ambassador for Imperial College London.
Helen spoke at a special event for children at the Royal Institution in London 2015. Co-presented by TV presenter Dallas Campbell, To Infinity and Beyond: the story of the spacesuit included part of Helen’s own spacesuit, kindly loaned by the National Space Centre in Leicester.
She took part in the sell-out 2019 Christmas Science Shambles event at the Apollo, London, appearing onstage with Tim Peake, Chris Hadfield, Robin Ince and Professor Brian Cox and in subsequent “Shambles” events since then.
Helen recorded the Audioguide for the acclaimed Cosmonauts exhibition at the Science Museum, London.
In support of British Science Week 2023, Helen wrote “I love how science explains the world around us. It helps us to improve life by allowing doctors to treat patients better, by enabling us to use phones and all the connectivity of the internet, by providing solutions to climate change and so much more. In space, science enabled me to have oxygen to breathe and a spacecraft that was made of materials to cope with high temperatures on the sunny side and low temperatures on the shady side. What I think is most interesting about science, though, is that there is always more to discover. Science makes life interesting!”
Helen hosts the Zero Pressure podcast, a relaxed conversation with people on the cutting edge, looking at how science and technology can contribute to solving complex, interrelated global challenges of today and tomorrow.
Awards, Medals and Honours
Helen Sharman was awarded the OBE for her pioneering work in 1993. In the New Year Honours List 2018, Helen was further awarded a rare honour, made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to Science and Technology Educational Outreach.
She is:
- Chartered Chemist and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (CChem, (Hon) FRSC)
- Honorary Member for the Society of Chemical Industry (MSCI)
- Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAes)
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS)
- Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society
- Fellow of the Institute of Science and Technology (FIScT)
She has received Honorary Degrees and awards from numerous Universities including Hull and Sheffield.
In April 2021, Helen accepted the invitation from The Royal Osteoporosis Society to become an Ambassador for that charity, with her interest in bone health in adults of all ages. Much of the research into bone health is being carried out through experiments in Space.
Helen is President of the IST (Institute of Science and Technology), making a significant contribution to the technical community.
She is an active member of the Association of Space Explorers (members must complete a full orbit of the Earth to qualify for membership!).
The space-suit worn by Helen is on display at the Science Museum in London.
Her flight suit, worn in space, is on display with some of her other space-flown artefacts in the National Space Centre in Leicester.
For her accomplishments in Project Juno, Helen received a star on the Sheffield Walk of Fame.
Helen is an inspiring and engaging role model for young people. Many schools named Houses, Science Centres and Laboratories after Helen, including in London, Kent, Rugby, Leeds, Hartlepool and in Europe.
Books
- Seize The Moment (autobiography: co-written with Christopher Priest). Published 1993. Out of print.
- The Space Place (Making Sense of Science) – children’s book, illustrated by Mic Rolph: 1997. Out of print.