When Ms Sharman was 27, she spent a total of eight days in space, taking part in the Anglo-Russian Juno Project.
She told the children at Iqra Primary Academy in Manningham that she was working for confectioners Mars when she heard of “this amazing new opportunity to be the first British astronaut”.
“A new space mission had been created and they were looking for applicants and I almost didn’t apply, because I didn’t think they’d choose me,” she said.
“Then I thought, ‘I’ve got to have a go at that. What an amazing opportunity’.”
As the successful candidate, she spent over a week on the Mir space station, having been blasted there in a rocket with two others after training in Star City, Moscow.
