Helen Sharman made history becoming the first British astronaut to travel to space. The British chemist was one of two Britons selected for astronaut training out of almost 13,000 applicants. Now retired, Helen provides highly engaging and ‘out-of-this-world’ keynote speeches at a variety of events all around the world. During her journey to become the first Briton to visit the Mir Space Station, Helen underwent a rigorous selection process which focussed on psychological and medical assessments, technical understanding and practical skills and the ability to learn a foreign language.
After undertaking eighteen months of intensive flight training in Star City near Moscow along with how to cope inside a cramped space capsule, prepare for weightlessness and procedures on a sea landing, Helen took on the Soyuz TM-12 mission. Launched on Saturday 18th May 1991, the trip to the space station lasted eight days. Sharman landed aboard Soyuz TM-11 on Sunday 26th May 1991, along with Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov.
Following her journey into space, Helen Sharman became a science communicator and keynote speaker. With a variety of interesting and expertise knowledge to share, Helen delivers presentations all around the globe, to great success. During her talks she is often heard discussing topics such as teamwork, leadership and motivation. These topics relate to her career, training and experiences as an astronaut, which she combines with her subsequent management experience. Helen takes delegates on a journey into Space, describing the seemingly endless training and preparation, the launch, how weightlessness feels, what it is like living and working in space, the team work and team spirit, and adjusting to life back on Earth afterwards.
How to hire Helen Sharman
Contact the Champions Speakers agency to provisionally enquire about Helen Sharman for your event today. Simply call a booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Helen's official speaking topics are listed below.
- Training and preparation for space
- Launch
- The effects of microgravity
- Living and working in space
- Teamwork
- Adjusting to life back on Earth
Online Event Feedback
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary halt of live events, Helen has been attending virtual and online events. See the feedback that she received from attendees, below
"That was superb!"
"A true highlight."
"Amazing inspiration."
"Thanks for sharing in such a natural way Helen. Amazing experience. Inspiration from the very beginning to the end!"
“We were delighted with our first virtual event, with Helen Sharman, which covered the challenges of working as a team in extreme conditions and in isolation. The results were excellent and much appreciated by the wider group. Helen handled the brief superbly, and she was calm and patient as we worked through the technical details before the event.” - Nick, Chief Financial Officer, Clinigen Group
"It was AWESOME, it went super smoothly and Helen was a peach. Her story is amazing! And the guys at AWS and CC really tied in what they were saying with her." - Jenny, Gilroy
"Please could you pass on massive thanks to Helen on behalf of all of us at Computacenter and AWS. We all found her story inspirational and were really honoured to have her be part of our event. The content tied in beautifully to our own theme and Helen had clearly spent a lot of time and effort in preparing her presentation as her delivery was immaculate" – Justin, Computercentre
Live Events Feedback
“An absolutely brilliant speaker, who engaged the whole Tees Valley and so many young people. Superb!” - Mark Tilling, Headteacher, High Tunstall College of Science
“The feedback from our event has been overwhelming. You proved a huge hit and very inspiring. We were so thrilled that you were able to join us and even more delighted by your words of wisdom, all delivered in a beautifully self-deprecating way and with a great sense of humour.” - Leading investment bank, London
“Helen’s presentation was fascinating and very absorbing. Her personal manner and ease belied her powerful message.” - West Sussex FWI
“Helen was approachable, inspiring, engaging and entertaining – excellent! We would highly recommend her.” - Ms Bee Hughes, Headmistress, The Maynard School , Exeter
“I was lucky enough to hear Helen speak at the recent UK Space Conference in Liverpool. She was a superb presenter – lively, engaging, humorous, honest and insightful – and gave the audience an inside perspective on her selection and mission to the Mir space station.” - Richard Hollingham, Science and Space Journalist
- 2018 - Named a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
- 2015 - Awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the British Science Association
- 2011 - Awarded the Medal for Merit in Space Exploration
- 1992 - Awarded an OBE
- 1991 - Became the first British Astronaut
- 1991 - Named an Honorary Fellow of Sheffield Hallam University
- 1991 - Awarded the Order of the Friendships of Peoples
- President of the Institute of Science and Technology
- Has a star on the Sheffield Walk of Fame
- Recipient of 10 Honorary degrees
- The British School in Assen is named after her
