Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Andrew Griffin

Aliens exist and could be on Earth right now, says first Briton in space Helen Sharman

British astronaut Helen Sharman pictured at the Science Museum on May 20, 2016 in London, England ( Jack Taylor/Getty Images )

Aliens definitely exist and they could already be here on Earth, according to the first British astronaut in space.

Helen Sharman said there was "no two ways about" extraterrestrial life but they could be made out of entirely different elements to the life that we know exists around us.

And they might be on Earth without us knowing, she said.

Speaking to the Observer Magazine, Dr Helen Sharman said: "Aliens exist, there's no two ways about it. There are so many billions of stars out there in the universe that there must be all sorts of different forms of life."

She added that although they may not be made up of carbon and nitrogen like humans, "it's possible they're here right now and we simply can't see them".

Dr Sharman, 56, made history when she participated in a mission to the Soviet modular space station Mir in May 1991.

"There’s no greater beauty than looking at the Earth from up high – and I’ll never forget the first time I saw it," she said.

"After take-off we left the atmosphere and suddenly light streamed in through the window. We were over the Pacific Ocean.

"The gloriously deep blue seas took my breath away."

In the interview, she highlighted how she is often referred to as the first British woman in space, rather than simply the first Briton.

"It's telling that we would otherwise assume it was a man," she said.

"When Tim Peake went into space, some people simply forgot about me. A man going first would be the norm, so I'm thrilled that I got to upset that order."

Additional reporting by agencies

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.