Astronauts discuss living in space ahead of Tim Peake launch

Imperial's Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, chats to alumnus Andreas Mogensen, a recent visitor to the ISS and classmate of Tim Peake.

In the video above, Helen and Andreas discuss their adventures in space nearly a quarter of a century apart - both what has changed, and the surprising things that have stayed the same, from the rockets to the toilets.

They compare the sleeping arrangements on the two space stations and what it feels like to be weightless - including how easy it is to get lost when you find yourself standing on the ceiling. They also talk about the experiments they performed, and how space missions are like "high-tech camping expeditions".

Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space in 1991, blasting off on an eight day mission to the Mir space station. She now works as the Operations Manager in Imperial's Department of Chemistry.  

Andreas Mogensen completed an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial in 1999 and recently became the first Dane in space. He is in the same class of astronauts at the European Space Agency as Tim Peake.

Tim Peake will launch from Kazakhstan on 15 December for a mission to the International Space Station, becoming the first British astronaut to come through ESA's astronaut programme. Helen and Andreas will be appearing in conversation at the Science Museum on the night of Tim Peake's launch as part of a special program of events and activities, also featuring a host of Imperial researchers investigating all things space.