Honour for first Briton in space

BRITAIN’S first astronaut was honoured by the Queen yesterday.

After being appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George at Windsor Castle, Helen Sharman, right, said: ‘It’s very powerful that I was the first British astronaut regardless of gender. While I never overtly get involved with gender-specific events, I think it’s quite clear to girls that I just got on with it.

‘Was it any more difficult for me? I don’t know, because I don’t know what it’s like to be anybody else, but I can certainly do it, and so can they.’

Miss Sharman, 54, the operations manager for the chemistry department at Imperial College London, became the first Briton in space when she visited the Mir space station in May 1991.

She was honoured for her services to science and technology education outreach.