Kiwi on astronaut shortlist

Press, 30 August 1989, Page 4

Kiwi on astronaut shortlist

PA Wellington A New Zealand woman is on the shortlist of 30 people competing to become Britain’s first astronaut. Teresa Neil, aged 25, a biochemist studying for her doctorate at York University, England, volunteered for the Anglo-Soviet Juno space mission in two years. She was still in the running after a series of tests which whittled the original 12,748 applicants down to 30, her father, Wanganui mechanic, Mr George Neil, said. The family was “very excited and a bit worried” about the prospect Ms Nell could be an astronaut. “It’s a marvellous achievement and I

wouldn’t think she would be scared,” he said.

Mr Neil said his daughter had a good chance of being selected. Her specialty — research Into growing crystals — was an area of expertise needed on the eight-day mission. She is working towards a Ph.D. in protein crystallography.

The candidates have to undergo a series of medical and fitness tests and a gruelling four-hour series of psychological tests, designed to assess aptitude, manual dexterity and analyse personality. Two volunteers would be chosen by November to go to Russia. One would make the flight and the other would act as understudy.