British Astronauts and Space Experts to Book as Speakers

Seven British space speakers you can book through PepTalk. Two have flown, two have run missions from the ground, and three explain the science to a general audience. All seven are UK-based.

The word astronaut does a lot of work in event briefs, and it usually covers more than it should. Only a handful of Britons have been to space, so most space programming is built around mission controllers, flight surgeons and scientists. Knowing which one you need is the difference between a good booking and a disappointing one. For the wider roster, see our astronaut speakers, NASA speakers and space science speakers.

Which Britons have actually been to space?

Two, on this roster. Both flew under a British flag rather than as US citizens with NASA, which makes them the two names UK audiences recognise. Book from here when the room wants the first-hand account: what launch feels like, what a spacewalk demands, and how a crew makes decisions when a mistake is not survivable. Their material maps onto resilience, team building and dealing with pressure briefs.

» Explore: All astronaut speakers

Tim Peake

The first British astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station, selected from over 8,000 applicants. A former Army officer and test pilot, he completed a spacewalk and more than 250 experiments on ESA's Principia mission.

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Helen Sharman CMG OBE

The first Briton in space and the first Western European woman to fly, aboard Mir in 1991. A chemist selected from 13,000 applicants for Project Juno, now President of the Institute of Science and Technology.

Learn more and book Helen Sharman CMG OBE →

Who ran the missions from the ground?

Spaceflight is a ground operation with two people at the sharp end. These two ran the systems that keep crews alive, one from Mission Control and one from space medicine. They are the better choice for operational audiences, because the material is about process, handover and decision-making under time pressure rather than the view from orbit. Related topics include high performance, risk management and virtual teamwork.

» Explore: All space science speakers

Libby Jackson OBE

Head of Space at the Science Museum and a former Columbus Flight Director at ESA's Mission Control. She led the education programme for Tim Peake's Principia mission, reaching one in three UK schools.

Learn more and book Libby Jackson OBE →

Dr Kevin Fong

Consultant anaesthetist, air ambulance doctor and space medicine specialist who has worked with NASA's Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Office. He founded UCL's Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment Physiology.

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Which scientists explain space to a general audience?

Three broadcasters and researchers who make the science land with people who did not come for the science. This group suits large mixed audiences, awards dinners and family or school events, where the job is wonder rather than transferable method. See also our science speakers, scientist speakers and broadcaster speakers.

» Explore: Science and space speakers for industry events

Professor Suzie Imber

Planetary scientist at the University of Leicester working on the BepiColombo mission to Mercury. She won BBC Two's Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? and holds the Royal Society's Rosalind Franklin Award.

Learn more and book Professor Suzie Imber →

Dame Maggie Aderin

Space scientist and co-host of BBC's The Sky at Night since 2014. She worked on the James Webb Space Telescope and the Aeolus satellite, and was appointed DBE in 2024 for services to science education and diversity.

Learn more and book Dame Maggie Aderin →

Professor Brian Cox CBE

Professor of Particle Physics at Manchester University and a UN Champion for Space. He worked on the ATLAS experiment at CERN and presents Wonders of the Universe and The Planets.

Learn more and book Professor Brian Cox CBE →

Related topics: innovation, future trends, climate change and diversity and inclusion. Also see our explorer speakers, adventurer speakers and educator speakers.

How to choose between British space speakers

Match the speaker to what the audience does. An astronaut gives a room a story it will remember, which is why Tim Peake and Helen Sharman work for awards nights and all-company events. A mission controller or flight surgeon gives an operational team a method, which is why Libby Jackson OBE and Dr Kevin Fong suit engineering, healthcare and safety-critical audiences. A broadcaster gives a mixed audience wonder, which is what Professor Brian Cox CBE and Dame Maggie Aderin do best.

Space is also a growing commercial sector, not only a source of metaphors. If the brief is the space economy rather than the human story, our guide to the space economy and new business growth opportunities is the place to start, and we also represent Stephen Attenborough, the former Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Galactic, who built the commercial side of private spaceflight from its first employee onwards. Ask us about him at enquiry stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many British astronauts have been to space?

Helen Sharman was the first, flying to the Mir space station in 1991 after being selected from over 13,000 applicants for Project Juno. Tim Peake became the first Briton to fly as a European Space Agency astronaut, spending six months on the International Space Station from 2015. Several other British-born astronauts have flown with NASA as US citizens.

Do I need an actual astronaut, or will a space expert work?

It depends on the job. An astronaut delivers a first-hand story, which works for large mixed audiences and celebration events. A mission controller, flight surgeon or planetary scientist delivers a method your team can use, which works better for operational and technical audiences. Astronaut fees are also typically the highest in this category, so a space science speaker often gives better value against the same brief.

Are these speakers suitable for schools and STEM programmes?

Yes, and most of them do this regularly. Libby Jackson OBE ran the education programme for Tim Peake's mission, which reached one in three UK schools. Dame Maggie Aderin has made STEM outreach a central part of her work and had a Barbie made in her likeness for International Women's Day in 2023. Browse our STEM speakers and our roundup of speakers to inspire girls in STEM.

Who works well for International Women's Day?

Helen Sharman CMG OBE, Libby Jackson OBE, Professor Suzie Imber and Dame Maggie Aderin all speak on women in science and are tagged for International Women's Day. Sharman and Aderin in particular have decades of public engagement behind them. See our inspirational female speakers and women in tech speakers.

Are these speakers available outside London?

Most are London-based, with Professor Suzie Imber in Leicester and Professor Brian Cox CBE holding his chair at Manchester University. All travel nationally and internationally, and travel costs sit outside the speaking fee. Availability is the tighter constraint, since several hold full-time academic or museum posts alongside their speaking work.

If you love this category, you may also like our roundup of UK science speakers to book if you love Hannah Fry.

Looking for a space speaker for your next event? Send us a message via the chat and we'll shortlist against your date, audience and budget. Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!