Women We Love At The Cave Of Cool That YOU Should Know

 

Great Britain felt immense pride when Major Tim Peake blasted into space in 2015, with many calling him Britain’s first astronaut. However, history has forgotten that it was Helen Sharman who became the nation’s first astronaut years earlier. Before training for her adventure, Helen Sharman worked as a research chemist for a confectionery company. It was only when she heard a radio advertisement that said “Astronauts wanted. No experience necessary” that her life took a sudden turn.

Helen responded to the ad. As Great Britain didn’t have its own official space program, they aimed to book a seat on a Soviet rocket to provide the world with a feel-good story following the Cold War, with the aim of improving Britain-Soviet relations. Out of 13,000 applicants, Helen Sharman passed detailed psychological and medical assessments, as well as vigorous training, and was chosen as Great Britain’s first astronaut. In 1991, she became first woman to visit the Mir space station. She spent eight days in space.

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