Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova grew up in Maslennikovo, Russia, USSR. After she left school, Valentina had jobs in a tyre factory and in a textile mill. In her spare time she loved parachuting and skydiving at her local club.
Helen Sharman
Helen Sharman grew up in Sheffield, UK. She graduated from university with a degree in chemistry, and went on to study for a PhD. After university, she worked as an engineer and as a chemist. One of her jobs involved working on the science of chocolate flavours!
Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong grew up in Ohio, USA. He flew a plane for first time when he was 6 years old which sparked his love of flying. Aged 16, he received his pilot's licence. Neil joined the US Navy and served as a naval aviator in the Korean War. The navy paid his college fees and Neil completed a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
Buzz Aldrin
Buzz grew up in New Jersey, USA. After school, Buzz went to a Military Academy where he got a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then joined the US Air Force and flew as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. After the war, he completed a PhD in Astronautics at MIT.
Sheila Kanani
Credit: Royal Astronomical Society
Occupation: Planetary Physicist and Communicator
Year born: 1983
Ricardo Schiavon
Credit: ARI/LJMU
Occupation: Astrophysicist
Research Areas: Galaxy formation, Observational astronomy
"I consider myself extremely lucky to be where I am, do what I do, and to be surrounded by so many amazing people here in Liverpool."
Mario Hamuy
Credit: By Puzhok (own work) at English Wikipedia - GFDL
Original text: I (Puzhok) created this work entirely by myself.
Occupation: Astronomer and Professor
Year born: 1960
Susan Murabana Owen
Credit: Travelling Telescope
Occupation: Astronomer and CEO
Research Area: Education, Science Communication, Planetariums, and Astronomy
Career Paths
Astronomy and astrophysics involve studying and investigating the science of the Universe. It is an unusual science because it deals with extremes. Extreme sizes. From massive galaxies, light-years across to tiny atoms that power the stars. Extreme temperatures. From millions of degrees in the centre of the Sun to 3 degrees above absolute zero in the vacuum of space.