For as long as he can remember, Tim Gibson has wanted to fly. The man soon to be Australia's youngest astronaut had a solo pilot's licence before he could drive and a burning unfulfilled desire to be a Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot.

The Brisbane-raised 30-year-old tried to apply at 17 but kissed goodbye to his dreams when an officer told him to give up because he was long sighted

Tim Gibson is set to be the youngest Australian in space.

Eight years later he came back with a formal application but was rejected again. Five failed appeals later, including investigations into possible eye surgery, he gave up for good.

"It's always been my dream, the one thing I always wanted to do and that's obviously fly for the defence force and I haven't achieved that and it's not likely that I will unfortunately," he said.