First Briton in Space
Thread Starter
First Briton in Space
I'm going to blow a gasket if I hear, read or watch another news story of Major (Rtd) Tim Peake announcing him as the 'First Briton in Space'.
NO HE IS NOT!!!
Ms Helen Sharman OBE was the first Brit in space in 1991 (yes, 24 years ago!) travelling on the same sort of rocket as Tim to a space station - although her's was MIR. Also, Michael Foale CBE was technically the second as a dual UK/US national who flew no less than 6 Space Shuttle missions between 1992 and 2004.
So technically Tim Peake's flight tomorrow is the 8th Brit to go to space - certainly not the first as the media would have us believe. All the more remarkable is that our first astronaut was a woman and that is a fact to be celebrated and not ignored - given that it was only 63 years after we, as men, allowed women the same rights to vote as us (which is another shameful act of convenient forgetfulness that we have).
Anyway, good luck to Maj (Rtd) Peake tomorrow, and if you're reading this and you work in the media - he is not the first!!!!
LJ
NO HE IS NOT!!!
Ms Helen Sharman OBE was the first Brit in space in 1991 (yes, 24 years ago!) travelling on the same sort of rocket as Tim to a space station - although her's was MIR. Also, Michael Foale CBE was technically the second as a dual UK/US national who flew no less than 6 Space Shuttle missions between 1992 and 2004.
So technically Tim Peake's flight tomorrow is the 8th Brit to go to space - certainly not the first as the media would have us believe. All the more remarkable is that our first astronaut was a woman and that is a fact to be celebrated and not ignored - given that it was only 63 years after we, as men, allowed women the same rights to vote as us (which is another shameful act of convenient forgetfulness that we have).
Anyway, good luck to Maj (Rtd) Peake tomorrow, and if you're reading this and you work in the media - he is not the first!!!!
LJ
Thread Starter
Sorry, "first to ISS"...
NO HE IS NOT!!!
Michael Foale CBE was commander of the ISS and did 6 months on it from 2003 and 2004.
Why can't we just celebrate the fact that it's great for kids to see a Brit go to space (again) and leave it at that?
LJ
NO HE IS NOT!!!
Michael Foale CBE was commander of the ISS and did 6 months on it from 2003 and 2004.
Why can't we just celebrate the fact that it's great for kids to see a Brit go to space (again) and leave it at that?
LJ
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The Telegraph is listing Tim Peake to be the 8th Briton in space. However, 2 of the 7 before him on their list are actually Americans who happened to be born in the UK (Greg Johnson and Richard Garriott). Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick all flew for NASA as US citizens, although they appear to hold dual nationality. Michael Shuttleworth (dual UK/South African) paid for his own trip as space tourist. Arguably, Helen Sharman is in a similar category as she was funded by industry for a one-off project, essentially for the sole purpose of putting the first Briton in space.
Tim Peake is a 100% British astronaut flying on behalf of a space agency as a full crew member on a science mission.
Good luck Tim!
Tim Peake is a 100% British astronaut flying on behalf of a space agency as a full crew member on a science mission.
Good luck Tim!
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Wouldn't that make Capt Haddock, Thompson & Thompson the first, second & third British astronauts, so Tim Peake would be the 11th? Not certain as to the nationality of Prof Calculus either.*
* he was Swiss so Tim's 11th place is safe.
* he was Swiss so Tim's 11th place is safe.
Last edited by Ken Scott; 14th Dec 2015 at 21:27. Reason: Include new information
Thread Starter
Brain Potter
He still is not the first Briton in space...
We can jazz it up however we like. That was Helen Sharman and no-one can take that away from her. Tim Peake is at best 'runner up' and if we include the others he wouldn't even make the podium...
...it's still a great achievement, but I think to constantly ignore Ms Sharman's achievement is poor form. Not forgetting she beat a Royal Navy physician, an Army Air Corps pilot and a University Lecturer in the final selection process. It was something she was selected for from over 13,000 applicants - probably similar to Tim Peake's selection process to get to where he is on the verge of doing. If the Army Air Corps pilot (who sadly died last year) had gone into space in 1991 I suspect we would not be making such a 'song and dance' about tomorrow's launch, which, really should be a bit of a non-event. I wonder who is pushing it so hard? The BBC seem obsessed!
LJ
He still is not the first Briton in space...
We can jazz it up however we like. That was Helen Sharman and no-one can take that away from her. Tim Peake is at best 'runner up' and if we include the others he wouldn't even make the podium...
...it's still a great achievement, but I think to constantly ignore Ms Sharman's achievement is poor form. Not forgetting she beat a Royal Navy physician, an Army Air Corps pilot and a University Lecturer in the final selection process. It was something she was selected for from over 13,000 applicants - probably similar to Tim Peake's selection process to get to where he is on the verge of doing. If the Army Air Corps pilot (who sadly died last year) had gone into space in 1991 I suspect we would not be making such a 'song and dance' about tomorrow's launch, which, really should be a bit of a non-event. I wonder who is pushing it so hard? The BBC seem obsessed!
LJ
Thread Starter
British Astronauts before Tim Peake
Here we go. A history lesson:
Dr Anthony Llewellyn - born Cardiff - NASA Astronaut 1967 - never flew
Cdr Pete Longhurst RN, Lt Col Anthony Boyle, Lt Col Richard Farrimond, Sqn Ldr Nigel Wood RAF and MoD Civil Servant Chris Holmes trained to be astronauts for the Space Shuttle to launch SkyNet4. The Challenger disaster stopped the plan and Wood was pencilled in to be first Briton in space. All cancelled by 1987.
Helen Sharman (born and bred in Sheffield to British parents) beat Maj Tim Mace (and 13,000 others) into becoming the first British Astronaut. She flew on a Soyuz similar to Tim Peake's on 18 May 1991 - 24 years ago!!!
Michael Foale (born in Louth to a UK father and US mother) flew to space 6 times on Space Shuttle and Soyuz from 1992 to 2004. He stayed on Mir and ISS and was the first Brit to spacewalk. He has over 374 days in space which is well over that planned for Tim Peak and Her Majesty presented this dual national with a CBE.
Mark Shuttleworth (born South Africa but dual UK/SA national) flew on a Soyuz in 2002.
Piers Sellers (born Crowborough, Sussex) flew 3 Space Shuttle missions from 2002 to 2010. Schooled in Kent, went to University in Kent, gained a PhD at Leeds and flew in the Air Cadets and UAS. He was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty in 2012 for services to science.
Nicholas Patrick (born Saltburn by the Sea, N Yorks) his mother was Scottish and he took US citizenship at the age of 30 to join NASA. He was a pilot in the Cambridge UAS where he learned to fly. He schooled at Harrow and Cambridge. Nicholas Patrick flew the Space Shuttle twice in 2006 and 2010.
Richard Garriot (born Cambridge to US parents) flew the Soyuz in 2008 to the ISS.
So there you go - Tim Peake is following a long line of people before him...and to be technically correct the first retired HMForces Serviceman to fly in space was technically RAF.
LJ
Dr Anthony Llewellyn - born Cardiff - NASA Astronaut 1967 - never flew
Cdr Pete Longhurst RN, Lt Col Anthony Boyle, Lt Col Richard Farrimond, Sqn Ldr Nigel Wood RAF and MoD Civil Servant Chris Holmes trained to be astronauts for the Space Shuttle to launch SkyNet4. The Challenger disaster stopped the plan and Wood was pencilled in to be first Briton in space. All cancelled by 1987.
Helen Sharman (born and bred in Sheffield to British parents) beat Maj Tim Mace (and 13,000 others) into becoming the first British Astronaut. She flew on a Soyuz similar to Tim Peake's on 18 May 1991 - 24 years ago!!!
Michael Foale (born in Louth to a UK father and US mother) flew to space 6 times on Space Shuttle and Soyuz from 1992 to 2004. He stayed on Mir and ISS and was the first Brit to spacewalk. He has over 374 days in space which is well over that planned for Tim Peak and Her Majesty presented this dual national with a CBE.
Mark Shuttleworth (born South Africa but dual UK/SA national) flew on a Soyuz in 2002.
Piers Sellers (born Crowborough, Sussex) flew 3 Space Shuttle missions from 2002 to 2010. Schooled in Kent, went to University in Kent, gained a PhD at Leeds and flew in the Air Cadets and UAS. He was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty in 2012 for services to science.
Nicholas Patrick (born Saltburn by the Sea, N Yorks) his mother was Scottish and he took US citizenship at the age of 30 to join NASA. He was a pilot in the Cambridge UAS where he learned to fly. He schooled at Harrow and Cambridge. Nicholas Patrick flew the Space Shuttle twice in 2006 and 2010.
Richard Garriot (born Cambridge to US parents) flew the Soyuz in 2008 to the ISS.
So there you go - Tim Peake is following a long line of people before him...and to be technically correct the first retired HMForces Serviceman to fly in space was technically RAF.
LJ
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If NASA awards astronaut wings for being 50 miles up, does that change the perspective at all.. any Brit before Helen Sharman?
John Llewellyn (born Cardiff) was the very first British astronaut - I think they were awarded the title 'astronaut' at an earlier stage back then. He died a couple of years ago, aged 80. John had issues with handling a jet and so left the programme before going aloft - although the reason for his departure from the programme wasn't divulged at the time (piloting the craft was never going to be his primary role anyway).
Astronaut Bio: John Anthony Llewellyn
John Llewellyn (born Cardiff) was the very first British astronaut - I think they were awarded the title 'astronaut' at an earlier stage back then. He died a couple of years ago, aged 80. John had issues with handling a jet and so left the programme before going aloft - although the reason for his departure from the programme wasn't divulged at the time (piloting the craft was never going to be his primary role anyway).
Astronaut Bio: John Anthony Llewellyn
When I was Exeter Uni we used to got a pub in Lympstone once a week to quiz night. One night the landlord announced that if we went outside we should be able to see Mir passing over. We all trooped outside and at the appointed hour sure enough it was clearly visible. We all raised a glass to Helen Sharman and went back inside to win the pub quiz (as usual).
Good luck Major Tom
(Sorry, Major Tim
)
Good luck Major Tom
(Sorry, Major Tim
)
Avoid imitations
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I wish him and the rest of his crew a safe journey and sincerely hope everything goes to plan.
Unlike some......
Unlike some......
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Many thanks Leon for putting the record straight for us ...
Perhaps we should also mention Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley (born 10 April 1992) who is an English actress. She is to appear in the lead role of 'Rey' in the new film Star Wars: 'The Force Awakens'.
... May the Force Be With You Leon
Perhaps we should also mention Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley (born 10 April 1992) who is an English actress. She is to appear in the lead role of 'Rey' in the new film Star Wars: 'The Force Awakens'.
... May the Force Be With You Leon
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Who could forget our first astronaut, picked for her coordination and control.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICnszA8N0BQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICnszA8N0BQ
Leon,
You'll be pleased that Brian Cox got it right when he signed off from this morning's live BBC TV coverage of the launch, mentioning the BBC 2 programme at 7pm.
"We'll be joined tonight by the first Briton in space, Helen Sharman"
You'll be pleased that Brian Cox got it right when he signed off from this morning's live BBC TV coverage of the launch, mentioning the BBC 2 programme at 7pm.
"We'll be joined tonight by the first Briton in space, Helen Sharman"
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Yes, Helen Sharman was the first British cosmonaut/astronaut (flew in late 80's). I was working at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre at that time and we all were surprised that she was selected and not Tim Mace who was a military pilot and a champion in parachut sport. (British) Politics were behind that decision.
Cosmonaut Biography: Timothy Mace
Both were very nice people. Tim, R.I.P.
Cosmonaut Biography: Timothy Mace
Both were very nice people. Tim, R.I.P.
Is anyone else slightly embarrassed that the UK, as one of the world's leading industrialised nations, should be celebrating getting the first UK sponsored astronaut 44 years after the first man in space?