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 book Helen Sharman for your event today. Simply call a booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at agent@championsukplc.com for a free quote.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages, or any other non-commercial contact with our speakers or acts.
When she's at corporate events, Helen is known to cover the following topics:
- Training and preparing for space
- Launching into space
- What weightlessness feels like
- Living and working in space
- The importance of teamwork and team spirit
- 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!"
Testimonials From Live Events
“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
“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
