'An exciting time': European Space Agency takes diversity to space

Helen Sharman, the UK's first astronaut, praises the agency as it begins a search for 26 recruits

Helen Sharman, the UK's first astronaut, has welcomed the European Space Agency's decision to improve diversity among crew as an exciting time for human space flight expansion".

Esa announced earlier this week that as part of its bid to recruit up to 26 new astronauts it was casting its net wider than ever and that diversity - across gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs and physical disability - will be at the heart of its recruitment efforts.