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.
From Helen Sharman
People are fascinated by space flight. It makes them interested in science, gets them asking questions and motivates them.
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.
I would much rather fly on Soyuz than the shuttle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I had been lucky that my physiology is well suited to space training.
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