Helen Sharman

You don't go into space just for the science. Economically, it is not worth it. I think the reason we should be in space is for the exploration; it's the human endeavour.

People are fascinated by space flight. It makes them interested in science, gets them asking questions and motivates them.

While we've taken seeds into space, and astronauts on the International Space Station have eaten lettuce they've grown, we haven't produced fruit in space, so we can't pollinate something.

During launch, the outside of the rocket is covered in a protective fairing, so we couldn't see outside, but as soon as that was jettisoned, my first view of the earth was over the Pacific Ocean, which was this wonderful deep blue, with clouds just over the top, and sunlight streaming in through the window.

I'd love to go back to space, I don't know any astronaut who doesn't want to.

The government will see that human spaceflight is useful - for science and the economy - and inspirational.