1. Helen Patricia Sharman was born on 30 May 1963 and is a British chemist and cosmonaut who became the first British person, first Western European woman and first privately funded woman in space, as well as the first woman to visit the Mir space station, in May 1991.
Helen Sharman worked as a research and development technologist for GEC in London and later as a chemist for Mars dealing with the flavouring properties of chocolate.
Helen Sharman was commuting home from work when she heard the radio advertisement.
Helen Sharman was selected in a process that gave weight to scientific, educational and aerospace backgrounds, as well as the ability to learn a foreign language.
Helen Sharman trained alongside her British back-up Major Tim Mace.
Helen Sharman's tasks included medical and agricultural tests, photographing the British Isles, and participating in a licensed amateur radio hookup with British schoolchildren.
Helen Sharman landed aboard Soyuz TM-11 on 26 May 1991, along with Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov.
Helen Sharman had carried with her a butterfly brooch her father had given her and a photo of Queen Elizabeth II.
Helen Sharman was 27 years and 11 months old when she went into space, making her the sixth youngest of the 556 individuals who have flown in space.
Helen Sharman has not returned to space, although she was one of three British candidates in the 1992 European Space Agency astronaut selection process and was on the shortlist of 25 applicants in 1998.
Helen Sharman spent the eight years following her mission to Mir self-employed, communicating science to the public.
Helen Sharman's autobiography, Seize the Moment, was published in 1993.
Helen Sharman has presented radio and television programmes including for BBC Schools.
Helen Sharman became Operations Manager for the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London in 2015.
Helen Sharman continues outreach activities related to chemistry and her spaceflight, and in 2015 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the British Science Association.
Helen Sharman was awarded the bronze and silver and gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club, in 1990.
Helen Sharman was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to Science and Technology Outreach.
On 26 May 1991, by Decree of the President of the USSR No UP-2010, Helen Sharman was awarded the "Order of Friendship of Peoples".
Additionally, Helen Sharman has been recognised by multiple schools by having houses named in her honour.
Helen Sharman has received several honorary degrees from UK universities, including:.