Honour given to 'UK astronauts'

Honour given to 'UK astronauts'

The five UK-born individuals who have flown in space are being honoured with a commemorative pin.

The British Interplanetary Society is making the award to recognise the astronauts' achievements but also to further the case for human spaceflight.

It is extremely hard for UK citizens to get into orbit because the government does not fund manned space activity.

The first recipients of the pin - Helen Sharman and Richard Garriott - had private funds backing their missions.

The other three - Michael Foale, Nicholas Patrick and Piers Sellers - all became US citizens to fly with the American space agency (Nasa).

Mr Garriott and Dr Sharman were given their pins in a ceremony at the BIS headquarters in London.

"The government has to understand that the costs of human spaceflight are far outweighed by the benefits - the benefits of inspiration and of exploration," said Nick Spall, a BIS fellow and co-ordinator of the UK Human Spaceflight Campaign.

Honour given to 'UK astronauts'

Source : BBC