Coogan, a 33-year-old from Belfast and the European Space Agency's second British recruit, said humans were entering a revolutionary period of space exploration that would lead not only to the return of people to the moon, but also Mars and beyond.
"I certainly don't think space travel, or space generally, should be for the elites," she said. "I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would love to visit another planet. I think the people who will end up doing these missions will be trained to make sure that it's a successful mission and that we're treating other planets with respect, but that's not the same as saying they'll be the few elites."
Coogan, who qualified in April, will be deployed for a six-month mission to the International Space Station between now and 2030, when the ISS is set to be decommissioned.
This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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