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Bristol student makes it to the final of BBC TV show ‘Astronauts’

BBC

Press release issued: 28 September 2017

A Bristol PhD student has made it to the final of a TV programme to find out who has what it takes to be an astronaut. The final episode of the programme, called Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? will air on BBC Two on Sunday [1st October] at 8pm.

The show received thousands of applicants from which only 12 exceptional candidates were selected. Having made it through several gruelling rounds of the competition, 23-year-old University of Bristol student, Tim Gregory is now one of the final three contestants. 

Previous episodes have followed the high-flyers as their minds and bodies were tested to the absolute limit, including being tasked with hovering a helicopter, beep tests, mental acuteness assessments, claustrophobia testing, taking their own blood and psychological scrutiny.

The final episode will determine the ultimate winner as the finalists head to the Shuttle Landing Facility on Florida's Space Coast to experience weightlessness at 30,000 feet as well as diving at the Aquarius underwater facility, used by Nasa for training astronauts. 

The winner will get the backing of former Commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield, who will help to launch their intergalactic career when the space agencies next take on recruits.

Tim spent his early days dreaming of a career in space and in adulthood has channelled this passion into his PhD in Cosmochemistry at the University of Bristol. He also inspires the next generation by giving regular science talks at local Bristol schools.

Tim said: “I have enjoyed every second of the astronaut selection process with the BBC, it has been a life-changing experience in so many ways. The tests were fun, scary, exciting and difficult all at the same time. I never imagined I’d make it this far and have learned a huge amount about myself and about what it really takes to be an astronaut.”

Watch the trailer here 

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