Adrian John Reynard (born 23 March 1951 in Welwyn, England)[1] is a businessman and commercial astronaut.
He attended Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) and then Cranfield University – in place of the strain gauge he had been expected to present as a final-year project he turned up for his viva voce examination in Mechanical Engineering with a brand new self-designed Formula Ford chassis (which he had to disguise as a Formula Three as he was sponsored by a rival car manufacturer) on a trailer.
Overly ambitious attempts to expand the company (and, possibly, Adrian Reynard's increasing involvement with British American Racing) led to financial difficulties.
Oxford Brookes university made up for Reynard's lack of a degree by awarding him an honorary doctorate.
In 2004, Reynard has signed up to join the "Founders" of Virgin Galactic, an elite group of civilians who will be among the first people to ride into space for a price.