The Society for Failed Astronauts
Attempting to reacclimatise after a whole week incommunicado one of the first things I noticed was the newly published New Year’s Honours List.
Among those receiving an honour this time round is Helen Sharman who has been made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (whatever that is).
Helen Sharman became the first British astronaut in 1991 when she took a turn in the Mir space station as a result of Project Juno.
I’m not a fan of the honours system (to say the least), but Helen Sharman’s achievement is well worth celebrating, so heartiest congratulations to her!
I remember being asked to chair a public talk by Helen Sharman many years ago at which I absent-mindedly introduced her as Helen Shapiro. I wanted the ground to swallow me up after that gaffe but she was very charming about it and took it in good spirit.
Anyway, the selection of potential astronauts for Project Juno began in 1989, with newspaper and radio adverts. About 13,000 people applied. In fact, to let you all in on a secret, I was one.
A keen long-distance runner in those days, I was physically fit enough to be in contention. I could also provide evidence of an ability to learn languages, chiefly through a knowledge of Latin and French from O-level. I passed the initial selection but, predictably, was later rejected after failing the psychological tests.
I noticed that Helen Sharman and I were born just a few days apart (in 1963) and it occurred to me that there must be quite a few people out there, of a similar vintage, perhaps some of them readers of this blog, who were among the 13,000 who, like myself, failed to become astronauts.
I would be very interested to hear from anyone who applied to Project Juno to find out what they ended up doing. I know one or two university professors after being rejected by Project Juno, but there must be some among the 13,000 who did something useful with their lives! Please let me know through the comments box.
Perhaps we could form a (not very exclusive) club? How about the Rejected Astronaut Society? No. the initials ‘RAS’ are taken…
I know. The Society for Failed Astronauts!
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In the Dark 
December 30, 2017 at 9:51 pm
Wikipedia claims that Keith Mason, former Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, was a candidate astronaut. Incidentally, his successor, the current Chief Executive, received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours.
Another space related New Year Honour was Michele Dougherty of Imperial College (CBE).
December 30, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Many people would have been happy had Keith Mason been sent into space
December 30, 2017 at 9:54 pm
You might well say that but I couldn’t possibly comment.
December 31, 2017 at 10:15 am
I am sure that is true, it would have been around the late 1970s. I applied at the time but was rejected when they read my height and weight on the form. But I certainly remember that Keith got much further than me through the process.
December 31, 2017 at 10:27 am
I think, though my memory is hazy, that the 1970s call was for astronauts as part of the ESA manned spaceflight effort. The UK did not in the end contribute to this so no UK candidates would have gone forward. And it didn’t really happen anyway. Keith would be more likely to remember, if he reads this blog.
December 31, 2017 at 9:13 pm
No, this was for a Spacelab flight, so UK people were eligible. I got as far as the UK tests and interviews round. Of the 25 of us, 5 went forward to the next round in Paris. Keith was one of these 5, I was not. Of the (I think) 50 in that round 3 were selected for flight. To give an idea of the standard, one of those 3 was a space engineer at ESTEC who was also a professional DC-9 pilot.
January 1, 2018 at 11:17 am
Thanks Alan. As I say, I was not called for UK interview.