Proud to be part of LJMU,
in partnership with the Dill Faulkes Educational Trust

 

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Space Travel

Anu Ojha

Early Life

Anu grew up in the 1970's and was captivated by the early crewed missions to space. As a teenager he saved his pocket money and cash from his paper round to buy a telescope. His memory of seeing Saturn's rings for the first time still makes him feel emotional. Anu didn't know what he wanted to be when he grew up, but knew he wanted to keep on learning.

Research Areas: Education, Skills, Human Spaceflight, Exploration Science

 

"Space is a topic that captures the imagination, and I use it as a vehicle to deliver education."

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."

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