Down-to-earth award for first Briton in space

HELEN SHARMAN, the Yorkshire scientist who in 1991 became the first British astronaut and the first woman to visit the Mir space station, has been rewarded with the down-to-earh distinction of an honorary degree in her home city.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jul 2017, 14:52 BST
Updated 11th Sep 2017, 13:12 BST
Dr Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, prepares to receive an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield. Picture: Scott MerryleesDr Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, prepares to receive an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield. Picture: Scott Merrylees
Dr Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, prepares to receive an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Dr Sharman, 54, had graduated from Sheffield University in 1984 with a BSc in chemistry. Her return there yesterday also saw her opening a new research and teaching facility on the campus, which includes virtual reality labs among the lecture theatres.

She was 27 and working, ironically, as a food scientist for Mars, when she answered a radio advertisement seeking applications to be a British astronaut.

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During her mission she took part in experiments about the effects of weightlessness on physical, chemical and biological systems.

Shortly after she returned, she was back in Sheffield to light the ceremonial flame at the 1991 World Student Games. However, she tripped while carrying the torch through the Don Valley Stadium.

In the years since, she has written books and now works at the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London.

The university said her honorary degree was “in recognition of her outstanding achievements”.

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It is also handing a degree to day to the product designer, Sebastian Conran, who was appointed its designer in residence in 2012 and co-founded Consequential Robotics, a university spin-out company that develops consumer and commercial robots. He is the son of the Habitat founder Sir Terence Conran and the brother of designer Jasper Conran.

Yorkshire-born Air Vice-Marshal Alan Johnson, who is patron of the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, and was chief medical officer for the Metropolitan Police, is also receiving an honorary degree.

Related topics:Helen SharmanYorkshire