She worked as a research and development technologist for GEC in London and later as a chemist for Mars dealing with the flavouring properties of chocolate.

No experience necessary.”[5] The programme was known as Project Juno and was a cooperative Soviet–British mission co-sponsored by a group of British companies.

[6] Its aim was to enhance the relationship between the UK and the Soviet Union in the twilight years of the Cold War by sending a British astronaut to the Mir space station.

[5] Sharman was selected in a process that gave weight to scientific, educational and aerospace backgrounds, as well as the ability to learn a foreign language.

It was a way out of the rat race.”[5] Before flying, Sharman spent 18 months in intensive flight training in Star City, Moscow.

[8] The Soyuz TM-12 mission, which included Soviet cosmonauts Anatoly Artsebarsky and Sergei Krikalev, launched on 18 May 1991[6] and lasted eight days, most of that time spent at the Mir space station.

[17] She continues outreach activities related to chemistry and her spaceflight, and in 2015 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the British Science Association.

[19] In January 2020, Sharman said in an interview that "aliens exist, there are no two ways about it" but that "it's possible ... we simply can't see them", a reference to the idea of a shadow biosphere.

On live international television, she tripped while running through the infield of Don Valley Stadium, sending the burning embers onto the track.

[25] For her determined pioneering efforts, Sharman was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1992 Birthday Honours, and the following year an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (HonFRSC).

[31] The true identity of the fictional comic-book character Steel Bolt was also named partly in homage to her.