The first astronaut in Space

British people will have their eyes on the skies today as astronaut Tim Peake begins his historic journey to the International Space Station.

But Major Tim is not actually the first Brit to leave Earth's atmosphere.

Helen Sharman, a high achieving chemist from Sheffield, became the first British citizen in space after blasting into orbit in 1991 aboard a Soyuz rocket, before spending eight days aboard the Mir space station.

On Twitter, feminists are furious that people are calling Tim Peake the first Briton in space, claiming sexists are hell bent on wiping Helen’s incredible achievement from the history books.

Helen's name is now trending across the country, as angry activists remind the world that a journey into space is as small a step for a man as it is for a woman.

Read more: Tim Peake launch LIVE: First British astronaut in space in 20 years heads to the ISS

She made her historic odyssey as part of a collaboration between the Soviet Union and a number of British companies, spending 18 months training at Star City.

There's definitely something sexist about the claim Tim Peake is the first #BritInSpace though #HelenSharman

Technically, Tim Peake is the first British man to travel into space as a European astronaut.