Claire Parfitt once cleaned space toilets, now leads Mars exploration teams

Sometimes realising a dream requires doing the minutest of tasks in order to gain the experience and work your way up. Even if those acts are something you wouldn't willingly perform. Claire Parfitt's first introduction to a space career was cleaning up space toilets. Today, she is leading exploration teams to Mars.She was 14, when she began spending time at the National Space Centre in Leicester. Originally from Nottingham, she recalled how in her early years, she developed an interest in science. Her parents and her science teachers at Fernwood School in Wollaton, helped pave the way for her career.Initially, she applied for work experience at NASA, but was turned down. Eventually, she secured a placement at the National Space Science Centre. During her time there, staff were planning and collecting artefacts for the opening of the country's flagship space science attraction, the National Space Centre.