Having flow to space on six missions, been involved in the most dangerous long mission for a NASA astronaut and being only the second Briton in space, Michael Foale’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. The retired astronaut and astrophysicist is backed by more than 26 years of experience at the forefront of space exploration, and as such has become a highly sought after speaker to share captivating keynote talks. Whether he’s booked to discuss the qualities he honed to become a success out of this world, or to motivate audiences to reach their potential, Michael is a recognisable and thought-provoking addition to any event.
With six space missions completed during his career, Michael is one of the most experienced of any astronaut, reaching a combined total of 374 days in space. When he made his first rocket journey in 1992 onboard the STS-45, Michael became only the second Briton to go to space. Furthermore, on his third mission, Michael made history as the first Briton to complete a spacewalk on STS-63, he went on to spend more than 16 hours in EVA, a testament to his trusted expertise. One of the highlights of Michaels extensive space career was his two extended missions. Battling station damage and systems failure during his four months stay on Mir, Michael was awarded the Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal for his bravery and success in fixing the issues. Michael’s final expedition saw him named as Commander of the International Space Station.
Raised in Cambridgeshire, Michael attended The King’s School, where his love for flying was born around this time as he joined the Air Training Corps before graduating from Queens’ College with first-class honours in natural science. By 1982, Michael had received a doctorate in laboratory astrophysics and now had a pilots licence. It was only a year later that he travelled out to Texas with hopes to join the US Space Program. Despite two failed attempts to make the selection, Michael persevered and was finally successful in 1987.
Retiring from NASA duties in 2013, Michael has since played a key role in the International Space Schools Education Trust, where he inspires young people and teaches them key skills. He has continued to contribute to space investigation through his private venture as the CEO of Foale Aerospace Inc, investigating green aviation technology. Equally prominent in the mainstream, Michael is a sought after keynote speaker whose anecdotes are known to captivate all demographics of audience and motivated individuals to push the boundaries of potential.
