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Tim Peake: 'Loving every minute' of first days in space Tim Peake: Life in space is 'absolutely spectacular'
(about 3 hours later)
UK astronaut Tim Peake has begun his life in space with tea and a bacon sandwich. UK astronaut Tim Peake says his first three days in space have been way better than he imagined.
He arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday after blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Soyuz rocket. Speaking from the International Space Station, he said life in orbit "was absolutely spectacular".
In tweets, he said he was "loving every minute" of the first days of his stay. He arrived at the space platform on Tuesday after blasting off from Kazakhstan on a Soyuz rocket.
Later on Friday he will answer questions from journalists in a live link-up with the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. During a live link-up, he did a backwards somersault and said he was surprised how quickly his body had adapted to weightlessness.
Answering questions from reporters at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, he said the first two hours had been "pretty rough" and he had been feeling "disorientated and dizzy".
"But I am amazed how quickly my body has adapted," he added.
"On my second day I woke up feeling ready to go to work and I have had no problems since."
The first professional British astronaut said the most unexpected thing was "the blackness of space".
"We always talk about seeing the view of planet Earth and how beautiful it is and you come to expect that.
"But what people don't mention that much is when you look in the opposite direction and you see how dark space is.
"It is just the blackest black and that was a real surprise to me."
And he said one of the questions he gets asked the most is what the space station smells like.
"It is certainly not unpleasant - it is a kind of metallic smell but not chemically or bad in any way. It is quite distinctive," he said.
He said on Christmas day he would be missing friends and family but at least he would be able to orbit the Earth 16 times and look down on the planet.
Rocket man
Mr Peake said he would be working out in space on Friday afternoon to get some exercise.
According to the European Space Agency, he has a number of tasks to perform, including unpacking cargo and taking part in an experiment looking at the effects of microgravity on the bone marrow.
Mr Peake is among six crew members living and working in space.Mr Peake is among six crew members living and working in space.
They include US station commander Scott Kelly, who is spending a year on board the ISS.They include US station commander Scott Kelly, who is spending a year on board the ISS.
Earlier, in tweets he said he had enjoyed some home comforts such as tea and a bacon sandwich.
In a tweet, mentioning the Nasa astronaut, the 43-year-old from Chichester in Sussex said: "What makes a good leader? @StationCDRKelly having a hot bacon sarnie waiting as my 1st meal on #ISS. Boy that tasted good! #Principia."In a tweet, mentioning the Nasa astronaut, the 43-year-old from Chichester in Sussex said: "What makes a good leader? @StationCDRKelly having a hot bacon sarnie waiting as my 1st meal on #ISS. Boy that tasted good! #Principia."
And he added: "1st 48hrs on ISS - busy but incredible. Amazing how fast the body adapts to new environment. Found my tea ... life is good!"And he added: "1st 48hrs on ISS - busy but incredible. Amazing how fast the body adapts to new environment. Found my tea ... life is good!"
Rocket man
The former Army aviator and helicopter test pilot also received messages of support from the Queen and Sir Elton John after the successful launch and docking on Tuesday.The former Army aviator and helicopter test pilot also received messages of support from the Queen and Sir Elton John after the successful launch and docking on Tuesday.
He tweeted singer Sir Elton John from space, quoting his famous song Rocket Man, in response to a good luck message.He tweeted singer Sir Elton John from space, quoting his famous song Rocket Man, in response to a good luck message.
And he tweeted the Queen from space after Buckingham Palace's twitter account posted a good luck letter from the monarch.And he tweeted the Queen from space after Buckingham Palace's twitter account posted a good luck letter from the monarch.
Later on Friday, Mr Peake will speak to members of the press via a live link to the European Astronaut Centre near Cologne in Germany.
The question and answer session will be streamed live on the European space agency website.
It will be a brief break from a busy schedule.
According to the European Space Agency, he has a number of tasks to perform, including unpacking cargo, spending an hour on an exercise bike and taking part in an experiment looking at the effects of microgravity on the bone marrow.
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