News about Helen Sharman

The 53-year-old royal stepped out in a striking navy blue ensemble to attend the launch of a space curriculum for pupils at the Space Expo in the seaside town of Noordwijk. The Vakkanjers programme will allow Dutch children to consider 'how to make life on our planet better' by building a satellite and designing a research vehicle. The Queen dressed for the occasion in a knee-length dress which was ablaze with iridescent floral embellishments. Carrying on the interstellar theme, the mother-of-three wrapped up warm in a dark blue woolen coat placed delicately over her shoulders and a matching statement hat.

Speaking on This Morning, Helen Sharman revealed that her perspective changed dramatically, with 'material things' becoming almost irrelevant compared with 'human relationships.'

The famous astronaut, who remains the last Brit to make it into space, has already said he thinks boots will be on the moon by 2026. He thinks a Brit will follow in the next 10 years and said he would 'love' to be involved. The 52-year-old said he would also throw his hat in the ring for any future trips to Mars. However the dad-of-two admitted that he may have to leave it to the next generation.

Rosemary Coogan, 33, from Northern Ireland, has graduated from space training as a new European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. She follows in the footsteps of Helen Sharman, who became the first Briton in space in 1989, and Tim Peake (left), who went to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015. 'From dreaming about space to now being one step closer to reaching it, I'm filled with gratitude and determination to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity,' she said.

Tim Peake (left) of the United Kingdom will lead a four-person crew to the International Space Station (ISS, bottom right) sometime in the next two years, according to various sources. Some people he'll be joined by John McFall, 42, a surgical student and Paralympic medalist; Meganne Christian, 35, a Kent-born materials scientist; and Rosemary Coogan, 32, an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland, is thought to be among those joining him. The quartet will spend up to two weeks on the ISS to perform scientific studies and demonstrate new technologies before heading home. Peake, 51, spent six months on the ISS between 2015 and 2016, but his younger crewmates will be flying for the first time.

The world's first 'parastronaut' has flowned in his first zero-gravity flight, possibly in anticipation of going into orbit. In the new European Space Agency's most recent cohort of astronauts, John McFall, 41, a British father-of-three, medical student, and Paralympic medalist, was included. He's seen feeling weightlessness for the first time on a specially converted aircraft, referred to as a 'parabolic flight,' in a BBC video. Following a motorcycle accident in Thailand in 2000, McFall, a native of Frimley, Surrey, was left with his right leg amputated. He was fitted with a prosthesis and is now working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to see how such a disability could influence a stay in space.

On Friday, the 50-year-old, who spent six months on the International Space Station, announced his retirement from the role as astronaut. Major Peake has been doing ambassadorial work for space and science with ESA and the UK Space Agency since 2019, but he will now take over full time. MailOnline looks back at his greatest accomplishments, ranging from being the first British spaceman to running the London marathon in space.

The 50-year-old will now play an ambassadorial role for space and collaborate closely with both the UK Space Agency and ESA.

Three Britons, as well as the first 'parastronaut,' are among the first new cohort of astronauts to have visited the European Space Agency in nearly 15 years. John McFall (right), Rosemary Coogan (left), and Meganne Christian have been selected in a class of 17 men and women (inset) out of a total of 27,523 applicants. They will be aiming to emulate former British astronaut Tim Peake, who spent six months on the International Space Station (ISS), in 2016. Following a motorcycle accident at the age of 19, Mr McFall, a father of three, had to have his right leg amputated. In 2005, he started running again and became a competitive track and field athlete before winning a bronze medal for Team GB in the 100m at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.