Proud to be part of LJMU,
in partnership with the Dill Faulkes Educational Trust

 

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Astronauts

Sally Ride

Early Life

Sally grew up in Los Angeles, California. As a child, Sally loved science and her parents encouraged her by giving her a chemistry set and a telescope. Sally studied English and physics at Stanford University. She stayed at Stanford to study for a master’s degree and a PhD. Sally's research was on how x-rays behaved in the interstellar medium. The interstellar medium is the stuff between the stars.

Year born: 1951

Research Areas: Spaceflight, Physics, X-rays

 

"All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary. "

Anu Ojha

Early Life

Anu grew up in the 1970's and was captivated by the early crewed missions to space. As a teenager he saved his pocket money and cash from his paper round to buy a telescope. His memory of seeing Saturn's rings for the first time still makes him feel emotional. Anu didn't know what he wanted to be when he grew up, but knew he wanted to keep on learning.

Research Areas: Education, Skills, Human Spaceflight, Exploration Science

 

"Space is a topic that captures the imagination, and I use it as a vehicle to deliver education."

Valeri Polyakov

Early Life

Valeri was born in Tula, Russia (then the USSR). Valeri’s father died when he was very young. He was initially called Valeri Korshunov, but changed his last name when he was adopted by his step-father. After school, he went to a medical institute in Moscow. He graduated with a degree in medicine in 1965. Valeri was inspired by the first Russian doctor to travel into space, Boris Yegorov. He dedicated himself to astronautics medicine – looking at the effects of flight and space travel on the human body. Valeri was selected as a cosmonaut in 1972.

 

Year born: 1942

Research Areas: Medicine, Spaceflight

 

"We can fly to Mars."

Hazza Al Mansouri

 

Early Life

Hazza was born in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He spent much of his childhood near the Liwa Desert where he would stargaze and dream about being a pilot. He graduated from Khalifa bin Zayed Air College in 2004 with a degree in aviation. He went on to join the UAE Armed Forces and became a military pilot. In 2018, he was one of two people selected to become the UAE’s first astronauts. Over 4000 people applied.

Year born: 1983

Research Areas: Aviation

 

"Working in space allows you to see people, from different backgrounds, working towards one common goal"

Mae Jemison

Early Life

Mae was born in Alabama but grew up in Chicago in the USA. Mae grew up watching the NASA Apollo missions, growing frustrated that there were no female astronauts. This led her to want to study science and go to space. At 16, she started university studying chemical engineering and African studies. She then went back to university to get a medical degree.

 

Year born: 1956

Research Areas: Chemical Engineering, Medicine

 

Tim Peake

Early Life

Tim was born and grew up in Chichester in the UK. His mum was a midwife and his dad a journalist. He went to air shows as a child which sparked his interest in flying. He left school at 18 to study at a military academy and join the British Army. Tim began flight training and became a helicopter pilot, going on to teach others to fly. During his time in the army he studied for a degree in Flight Dynamics from the University of Portsmouth.

 

Year born: 1972

Research Areas: Flight Dynamics, Aviation