Crewed Missions
Humans have been travelling to space since the 1950s.
We have used telescopes to study space for centuries, but it was the invention of massive rockets which finally let us explore space in person.
Colour Your Space
Spending time focusing on one task can help you to relax. Colouring is a great way to spend some time on a calm and creative activity.
Use your imagination to add colour to these colouring sheets. Choose from Space Exploration, Planets, or Telescopes. Or why not complete all 3?!
Cosmic Yoga
Connecting with the natural world through topics like space and astronomy may help improve your mental health and wellbeing.
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."
Samantha Cristoforetti
Early Life
Samantha was born in Milan, Italy but grew up in a tiny village in the Alps. She is a fan of science fiction and dreamed of becoming an astronaut from a young age. When she was 18, she did an exchange programme spending a year in the USA and attending Space Camp. She studied Mechanical Engineering at a university in Munich, Germany. During this time, she also studied in France and Russia. Samantha was one of the first women to join the Italian Air Force as a fighter pilot.
Year born: 1977
Research Areas: Mechanical Engineering, Aviation, Aeronautics
"I think there is a sense of destiny in this whole idea of space exploration."
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