The British astronauts that went into orbit before Tim Peake

Britain’s cosmonaut Helen Sharman prior to blast-off in 1991. Photograph: AP

In 1991, Sheffield born Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space when she blasted into orbit aboard the Soviet Soyuz TM-12 space capsule.

Sharman, a chemist for Mars, won her place to go into space by replying to a radio advert - “Astronaut wanted. No experience necessary.”

The Observer, 19 May 1991.

Sex Pistols and Ramones fan Michael Foale, from Lincolnshire, had tours on both the Mir platform and the International Space Station; the latter he commanded in 2003. He became a US citizen so he could join NASA.

The Guardian, 14 March 2000.

Cambridge engineering graduate Nicholas Patrick, from North Yorkshire, also became a US citizen to pursue his space dream. He flew on two shuttle missions.

The Guardian, 9 August 1999.

Sussex born Piers Sellers flew several missions for Nasa as a US citizen, most recently on shuttle Atlantis.

The Guardian, 19 October 2002.

US shuttle pilot Greg Johnson was born in Britain when his father was stationed in the country in 1962.