Astronaut phones home from space… only to get voicemail

A Russian cargo rocket carrying food and supplies has docked with the International Space Station – just in time for the New Year.

British astronaut Tim Peake, who also recently arrived, assisted the astronauts in getting out and back into the station.

The docking comes less than a week after a Soyuz spacecraft successfully delivered Russian commander Yuri Malenchenko, American NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, and British astronaut Tim Peake to the International Space Station. Those are for the earthbound.

In both cases, the astronauts are required to load the food into a special machine that fills them with hot water and rehydrates them in seconds. Tether the works to the dinner table with bungee cords, and dig in. Contrary to popular belief, fresh fruit and vegetables are allowed on board and are frequently brought up by new crewmembers – but they must be eaten in the first few days, before they rot.

Working on the ISS can be a risky and important job, and the astronauts assigned there conduct wide-ranging research into space and the effects of microgravity every day.

Kelly is on a one-year mission that’s due to end in March. On Expedition 46, special requests included That’s It fruit bars, which have an 18-month shelf life and are temperature resistant, even though they’re pure fruit.

The space-traveller’s mother Angela, 73, added: “We’ve got used to calling him “Flat Tim” so Flat Tim will be having dinner with us on Christmas Day”.

He’ll be tucking into turkey shaped like a space helmet and a generous helping of Christmas pudding.

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