On Mir, the lights kept going out because it had developed so many electrical problems. Helen Sharman More Quotes by Helen Sharman More Quotes From Helen Sharman There is very little difference between men and women in space. Helen Sharman womendifferencesspace I still dream about being on the space station with the feeling of being weightless. The weightlessness is the most amazing, relaxing and natural feeling. Helen Sharman amazingfeelingspacedream During launch, the outside of the rocket is covered in a protective fairing, so we couldn't see outside, but as soon as that was jettisoned, my first view of the earth was over the Pacific Ocean, which was this wonderful deep blue, with clouds just over the top, and sunlight streaming in through the window. Helen Sharman oceanbluecloudswindow Because we were orbiting the earth faster than earth spins on its axis, we went around the earth 16 times a day, an earth day, which meant 16 periods of lightness and 16 periods of darkness in 24 hours. Every so often you'd look towards the earth, and often you could see lightness and darkness together, and dawn and sunset were spectacular. Helen Sharman dayyousunsetdarkness From space, the earth appears predominantly blue; the clouds are brilliant white. Surprisingly, you don't see much green, although Ireland looks green, and so do Scandinavia and New Zealand. The deserts are brick red and really stand out. Helen Sharman yougreenblueclouds The view from space is really very special. From the window, you can look back at the Earth and see the stars around you. I just hope that more people from Britain get the chance to experience it. Helen Sharman youexperiencestarshope Politicians and the government have become too interested in short-term gains. Of course, if you look at the direct financial returns in the short term, human space flight is expensive. But they need to look longer term. Helen Sharman lookyougovernmentspace People are fascinated by space flight. It makes them interested in science, gets them asking questions and motivates them. Helen Sharman questionsspacesciencepeople I would much rather fly on Soyuz than the shuttle. Helen Sharman flymuchthanrather I operated a periscopic TV camera so the commander, Anatoly Artsebarsky, could establish where we were heading. It is real teamwork on Soyuz. Helen Sharman camerawhererealteamwork I get standing ovations at meetings when I say Britain should be involved in human spaceflight. Unfortunately, that goal has been blocked by a handful of people in high office. Helen Sharman saymeetingsstandingpeople Just because I'm a woman does not mean I have to deal with everything to do with food. Helen Sharman just-becausewomaneverythingfood The advice I was given was just to make sure you look out of the window occasionally. It's something no astronaut ever gets tired of doing. Helen Sharman lookyoutiredwindow I don't classify myself as the first space tourist because I wasn't as though I paid and had a holiday out of it - although I had a fab time. Helen Sharman myselfholidayspacetime There is good science you can do in space. There is stuff there you cannot do on Earth and we can gain understanding from it. Helen Sharman goodyouspacescience You don't go into space just for the science. Economically, it is not worth it. I think the reason we should be in space is for the exploration; it's the human endeavour. Helen Sharman thinkyouspacescience We should be pushing our boundaries. After all, we Britons are explorers and adventurers. Helen Sharman afterourboundariesshould I lived at Star City for more than a year ahead of my trip to Mir on May 18, 1991 in Soyuz TM-12. My life at Star City was so remote that learning Russian became my greatest priority. Helen Sharman my-lifecitylearninglife When the history books are written in a thousand years, when space travel would have become routine, the moment that humans first left Earth will be of huge importance. Star City is a central part of this story and it deserves more recognition. Helen Sharman citymomenthistorytravel I had been lucky that my physiology is well suited to space training. Helen Sharman welltrainingluckyspace
