While we've taken seeds into space, and astronauts on the International Space Station have eaten lettuce they've grown, we haven't produced fruit in space, so we can't pollinate something. Helen Sharman astronauteatfruit Change image and share on social
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 amazedreamfelt Change image and share on social
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 directexpensivefinancial share on social
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 bookcentralcity share on social
On Mir, the lights kept going out because it had developed so many electrical problems. Helen Sharman developelectricallight Change image and share on social
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 axisdarknessdawn share on social
The government will see that human spaceflight is useful - for science and the economy - and inspirational. Helen Sharman economygovernmenthuman Change image and share on social
We should be pushing our boundaries. After all, we Britons are explorers and adventurers. Helen Sharman adventurerboundarybriton Change image and share on social
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 blockbritaingoal Change image and share on social
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 bluecloudcover share on social