Highlights of Tim Peake’s historical journey to space station

Millions around the country paused in front of TVs and computer screens Tuesday to watch a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Maj. The Russian rocket carries British astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and USA astronaut Tim Kopra.

They blasted off in the Russian Soyuz TMA-19 capsule shortly after 11.00 GMT in Kazakhstan as they embarked on the six-hour journey through space.

Their launch from the Moscow-operated Baikonur cosmodrome went according to plan.

On his way by coach to launch pad number 1, where Gargarin was launched into space in 1961, Major Peake grinned broadly through the window of the bus, giving the thumbs up to his family, including his parents Nigel and Angela.

Peake, 43, a former army major who is on a six-month mission for the European Space Agency (ESA), became the first astronaut representing the British government and wearing a Union Jack flag on his arm.

The first British astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station has landed. “The answer to that question is quite a lot, actually”.

Mrs Peake said: “Wasn’t it an awesome sight? But there’s a wider importance in showing that Britain is not done exploring yet”. Britain is a latecomer on the space scene now.

Malenchenko, who will celebrate his 54th birthday aboard the ISS next week, has already logged 641 days in space, while Kopra has chalked up 58.

“Well, you know it was a attractive launch and we got launched straight into night and got on with the work”.

Even British Prime Minister David Cameron was watching the TV as Tim headed off for his mission. To slip the surly bonds of Earth in a rocket is something most of us would not dream of doing.

During more than five months on humanity’s only microgravity laboratory, the Expedition 46 crew members will conduct over 250 science investigation in fields including biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development, the U.S. space agency said in a statement.

Peake will also experiment with a new tea making process.