The first British person in space was astronaut Dr Helen Sharman.
At the age of 27, Dr Sharman was driving home from work when she heard the job advertised on the radio, later applying and being selected.
Now 56, Helen has told how there's "no greater" beauty than looking at the Earth from up high in an interview with Observer Magazine .
The national hero also said extraterrestrial life could be living right under our noses, reports The Mirror .
"Aliens exist, there’s no two ways about it," she told the magazine.
Adding: "There are so many billions of stars out there in the universe that there must be all sorts of different forms of life.
"Will they be like you and me, made up of carbon and nitrogen? Maybe not.
"It’s possible they’re here right now and we simply can’t see them."
She also told the magazine what it was like being the only girl in A-level science classes and how she has never allowed herself to be defined by her gender.
Dr Sharman said: "People often describe me as the first British woman in space, but I was actually the first British person."
Adding that some people "simply forgot" about her when Tim Peake followed in her footsteps in 2015.
Speaking with Observer Magazine, Dr Sharman said a man going first into space would be the norm and she is thrilled she "upset that order".
More than 13,000 people had applied to be the first UK citizen in space in Project Juno, a private British space programme.
Dr Sharman went through rigorous training with three other candidates and was selected to take part in the eight-day mission.
