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UK astronaut Tim Peake to go to International Space Station UK astronaut Tim Peake 'thrilled' at space opportunity
(about 11 hours later)
The UK astronaut Tim Peake has been given a date to fly to the International Space Station (ISS). Tim Peake says he is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to go to the International Space Station (ISS).
The date of the mission is yet to be made public but it will not be before 2015. The European Space Agency (Esa) is to release the details on Monday. The UK astronaut told BBC News it was a "huge privilege" and the culmination of everything he had worked for during his aviation career.
Peake, who was a major and a helicopter pilot in the British Army Air Corps, has been in training for an expedition to the ISS since 2009. A former major and helicopter pilot in the British Army Air Corps, Tim Peake will join Expedition 46 to the ISS, launching in November or December 2015.
To get there, he will ride a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. His stay at the 390km-high outpost is expected to last just over five months.
Tasks once in orbit will include helping to maintain the 27,000km/h platform and carrying out science experiments in Esa's Columbus laboratory module, which is attached to the front of the 400-tonne complex.Tasks once in orbit will include helping to maintain the 27,000km/h platform and carrying out science experiments in Esa's Columbus laboratory module, which is attached to the front of the 400-tonne complex.
It is understood there is a strong chance he will also get to perform a spacewalk.
"I am delighted to have been assigned to a long-duration mission to the International Space Station," he told me.
"On a personal level, this feels like the high point of an incredibly rewarding career in aviation.
"It is a huge privilege to be able to fly to space. I look forward to the challenges ahead and I shall be doing my utmost to maximise this opportunity for European science, industry and education to benefit from this mission."
Forty-one-year-old Peake hails from Chichester, and is so far the only Briton ever to be accepted into the European Astronaut Corps.Forty-one-year-old Peake hails from Chichester, and is so far the only Briton ever to be accepted into the European Astronaut Corps.
His mission will make him the first UK national to live and work in space, and to fly the Union flag, on a British-government-funded programme (the UK is Esa's third largest contributor). In some senses, he will become the "first official British astronaut", because all previous UK-born individuals who have gone into orbit have done so either through the US space agency (Nasa) as American citizens or on independent ventures organised with the assistance of the Russian space agency.
All previous UK-born astronauts that have gone into orbit have done so either through the US space agency (Nasa) as American citizens or on private ventures organised with the assistance of the Russian space agency. As an Esa, astronaut, "Major Tim" will be flying under the Union Flag on a UK-government-sponsored programme.
"Major Tim" Peake has a degree in flight dynamics and is a qualified test pilot.
When he was selected for astronaut training he was working with the Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland.
Helen Sharman was the first Briton to go into space in 1991 on Project Juno, a cooperative project between a number of UK companies and the Soviet government. She spent a week at the Mir space station.
The most experienced British-born astronaut is Nasa's Michael Foale. He has accumulated 374 days in orbit, completing long-duration missions to both the ISS and Mir.
Major Tim's assignment is made as British space activity is experiencing a big renaissance.Major Tim's assignment is made as British space activity is experiencing a big renaissance.
The space industry in the UK is growing fast, employing tens of thousands of workers and contributing some £9bn in value to the national economy.The space industry in the UK is growing fast, employing tens of thousands of workers and contributing some £9bn in value to the national economy.
The government has also lifted substantially its subscription to Esa, and the agency has responded by opening its first technical base in the country. The government has also raised substantially its subscription to Esa, and the agency has responded by opening its first technical base in the country.
Ecsat (European Centre for Space Applications and Telecoms) is sited on the Harwell science campus in Oxfordshire.Ecsat (European Centre for Space Applications and Telecoms) is sited on the Harwell science campus in Oxfordshire.
Traditionally, British governments have steadfastly refused to get involved in human spaceflight, and even the current administration puts only a minimal amount of money into the Esa programme.
But the British Interplanetary Society's Nick Spall, who has long campaigned for greater UK engagement, says the benefits of human spaceflight are now being recognised in Whitehall.
"With exciting mission opportunities coming up for flights across the inner Solar System to asteroids, the Moon, Mars and beyond for the future, many young people will be inspired by Tim and his achievement , taking up STEM (science, technology and maths) subjects at schools and universities. This will really help boost the UK's technical employment potential for jobs and industry. Human spaceflight is a 'win-win' initiative for the UK," he said.
There is sure to be huge interest in Major Tim's adventure.There is sure to be huge interest in Major Tim's adventure.
The recently returned ISS commander, Canadian Chris Hadfield, attracted a big following for his tweets, videos and songs from the platform. His rendition of David Bowie's A Space Oddity has become a YouTube hit.The recently returned ISS commander, Canadian Chris Hadfield, attracted a big following for his tweets, videos and songs from the platform. His rendition of David Bowie's A Space Oddity has become a YouTube hit.
It would be hoped that Major Tim could achieve something of the same impact.It would be hoped that Major Tim could achieve something of the same impact.
"I do strum the guitar badly," he admits, but as for singing, he says he is not in the same class as Cmdr Hadfield. "Under Pressure", a duet with Freddie Mercury and Queen, is Major Tim's favourite Bowie number. "Quite apt, I suppose!"
Helen Sharman was the first Briton to go into space in 1991 on Project Juno, a cooperative project between a number of UK companies and the Soviet government. She spent a week at the Mir space station.
The most experienced British-born astronaut is Nasa's Michael Foale. He has accumulated 374 days in orbit, completing long-duration missions to both the ISS and Mir.