Britain’s first official astronaut flies to the International Space Station

A rocket carrying a three-man crew blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Tuesday, carrying Tim Peake, also known as Major Tim.

In a letter to the astronaut, which the Royal Family shared on Twitter, Her Majesty said: “Prince Philip and I are pleased to transmit our best wishes to Major TImothy Peake as he joins th International Space Station in orbit”.

The Soyuz is the Russian spacecraft that carried Major Peake and his colleagues up to the International Space Station during a six-hour flight.

The new crew members are Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, US NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra, and European Space Agency astronaut Timothy Peake.

Before they enter the ISS, the astronauts will perform a careful sequence of pressurizing the docking modules.

FRIENDS and former colleagues of astronaut Tim Peake gathered at the Aviation Flying Centre in Middle Wallop this morning to watch the live rocket launch of the mission to the International Space Station. Yuri took manual control and backed the capsule away before making a second attempt to re-align it with the station’s docking port. He will be joining fellow astronauts as part of the European Space Agency’s Principia Mission, which aims to conduct experiments and test new technologies for future exploration missions. His selection for the program in 2009 marked a change in policy-before he was chosen, Britain had an official policy against spending money on manned space missions.

Other “Brits in space” have either had United States or dual citizenship and worked for Nasa or, like Dr Sharman, been on private or sponsored trips. The Russian rocket carries British astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Tim Kopra.

“Everybody sends their love and I hope you have a wonderful time”, Angela responded, Peake saying in return: “Thanks very much – and love to everybody back home”.

Image copyright EPA Image caption The timing of the launch was calculated based on the precise location of the International Space Station in its orbit.

He said: “I don’t think anything can really prepare you for that moment”. In that time, more than 200 people from 15 countries have visited. His first scientific endeavor is already underway: During his transit from Earth to ISS in the Soyuz rocket, Peake was expected to complete a survey on any head aches he experienced.