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First Briton in space

(40 Posts)
Lilygran Tue 15-Dec-15 10:33:32

I'm not usually given to knee-jerk feminist responses but I am quite cross about this! The BBC has been particularly bad at misrepresenting the facts in this case but so have a number of newspapers. It is great that the UK is - finally- officially contributing to to the International Space Station. It wouldn't detract from this or from Tim Peake's achievement to acknowledge the pioneering role of a woman, Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space in 1991. I've seen it suggested that Tim is really the first because he's publicly funded or will be the first Briton to 'wear the Union Jack' in space. Look at the picture! www.independent.co.uk/news/science/tim-peake-uk-astronaut-to-follow-pioneer-helen-sharman-into-space-a6773721.html

WilmaKnickersfit Thu 17-Dec-15 14:11:46

I don't get the impression that Helen is being ignored by anyone as the first Briton in space, in fact she's been prominent in the coverage of Tim going into space. Tim going into space is a big deal because he's going to be living in space for 6 months on the ISS and it's a huge first for our country.

WilmaKnickersfit Thu 17-Dec-15 14:36:01

On a separate but related subject, I always wondered why Helen was not selected for the ESA. She'd only recently been to space and applied twice, so I would have thought she'd have been selected, especially as other astronauts who like Helen had visited the MIR space station, were selected. It's taken a very long time for a Briton to finally be selected for a mission to the ISS.

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 17:22:19

Can't remember what took me to it today but here's a link to a Wiki page about useful space science spinoffs for anyone who's interested.

Elegran Thu 17-Dec-15 18:39:59

That is an impressive list, thatbags

Elrel Thu 17-Dec-15 20:29:56

She was the first British woman, he the first British man.

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 20:47:22

Here is mire of the same in true Foxy style smile

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 20:47:36

more

nonnanna Fri 18-Dec-15 05:52:02

Slightly off thread but I wanted to share this with my Gransnet friends - Four year old GD and I watched the lift off together and made a cardboard tube rocket and a tin foil covered international space station. She was playing with these whilst I was saying that on a clear night we might be able to see the ISS looking like a bright star moving in the sky. Her response - tchconfused 'Will the baby Jesus be on it?'
I think she has seasonal information overload tchgrin

WilmaKnickersfit Fri 18-Dec-15 23:03:58

tchgrin

Tegan Fri 18-Dec-15 23:26:30

Worried about how my mind works these days. Totally unphased at the thought of all this space travel etc but have just been sitting in front of the telly watching the Graham Norton show with my mind being totally boggled by how Kylie Minogue can walk in her shoes....confused....

Jane10 Sat 19-Dec-15 07:38:37

Glad its not just me that finds myself wondering about things like that!

JessM Sat 19-Dec-15 07:46:03

I bet lots of people think Edmund Hilary was a Brit. And Ernest Rutherford.
Or that Crick and Watson deserved a nobel prize while their female colleague was ignored.
Or that Wilde, Sheridan, Swift and many other literary Irish luminaries were English.
History is written by the powerful.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 19-Dec-15 08:51:49

Tegan Yes! tchgrin

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 19-Dec-15 08:52:40

nonananna that is very sweet. tchsmile