On this day (18th May 2018) 27 years ago in 1991 – Helen Sharman Became the first British astronaut!
27 year old Helen Sharman, from Sheffield – blasted into orbit, from Baikonur cosmodrome in the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, with fellow astronauts, Anatoly Artebartsky and Sergei Krikalyov – aboard the Soyuz TM-12 space capsule.
![](https://majortim.space/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Helen-Sharman-rocketSTEM.jpg)
“Astronaut wanted, no experience necessary”
A food chemist from Sheffield, heard the advertisement (‘Astronaut wanted, no experience necessary’) while flicking through the radio stations on her way home from ‘Mars’ (the confectionary company) – she was picked out of more than 13,000 other applicants!
![](https://majortim.space/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Helen-Sharman-getty.jpg)
Helen is an inspiration to all – she speaks at events, giving lively and fascinating talks to engage everybody with STEM!
Please share this article to celebrate
Helen Sharman’s success –
27 years on from her launch!