Picture of Bear Astronaut

Biography

Philip Marshall was a British astronaut born on October 25, 1972. He grew up in a small town in the United Kingdom where he developed his passion for astronomy and space science. At the age of 18, Philip enrolled at the University of London to study physics and space technology. After graduating, he joined the Royal Air Force as a spaceflight engineer and served for several years before joining the European astronautics programme.


In 2004, Philip became the first Briton to go into space as a professional astronaut. He flew five different missions over the next eight years, including a mission to Mars in 2008. During his career, Philip became known as "the Bear" because he always carried a teddy bear on his missions to remember his family and his earthly home.


Sadly, on July 29, 2012, while Philip was on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), he died suddenly of a heart attack due to previously undiagnosed medical complications. His tragic death sparked a wave of international tributes and his memory will forever be etched in the hearts of people who had the chance to work with him or simply admire this great brave man who gave his life to explore the stars.