Thomas's incredibly story saw his childhood fascination with the space race turn into four Space Shuttle missions, with Thomas spending 44 days in space and travelling more than 17 million miles.

There are some more personal revelations too, including the "non-negotiable" album he took with him on every mission and how he kept himself as grounded as possible during his missions.

The conversation takes listeners behind the scenes of life in orbit, including the exhilaration of that first launch to the unforgettable moment Thomas first caught sight of Earth from his shuttle window, as well as the renewed excitement surrounding Nasa's renewed Artemis programme and the longer-term potential of space tourism.

Holidays to space stations and even the Moon could become a reality within "years or decades", according to Thomas, as he reflects on the power of travel to bring "Earthlings" closer together.

So, how close are we to making space tourism a reality, what can astronauts teach us about the importance of exploring our own planet, and what does it really feel like to see Earth from above? Listen to the latest episode of Unpacked to hear the full conversation.