This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8058601.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Europe unveils British astronaut | Europe unveils British astronaut |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Timothy Peake, a 37-year-old test pilot in the Army Air Corps, has been accepted into the European Space Agency's (Esa) Astronaut Corps. | Timothy Peake, a 37-year-old test pilot in the Army Air Corps, has been accepted into the European Space Agency's (Esa) Astronaut Corps. |
| The spaceman, who hails from Chichester, was unveiled at a ceremony in Paris, along with five other new colleagues from across Europe. | The spaceman, who hails from Chichester, was unveiled at a ceremony in Paris, along with five other new colleagues from across Europe. |
| The other recruits to emerge from Esa's latest trawl for new astronauts includes the first woman astronaut. | The other recruits to emerge from Esa's latest trawl for new astronauts includes the first woman astronaut. |
| There are two Italians, a Frenchman, a German, and a Dane. | There are two Italians, a Frenchman, a German, and a Dane. |
| But it is the appointment of a Briton which will surprise many. | But it is the appointment of a Briton which will surprise many. |
| Successive British governments have considered human spaceflight an expensive distraction, preferring to fund robotic exploration instead. | |
| This policy has made it extremely difficult for British-born individuals to get into orbit. | This policy has made it extremely difficult for British-born individuals to get into orbit. |
| "I hope it will now encourage the British government to contribute," said Jean Jacques Dordain, director-general of Esa. "With such a good guy, how can they not contribute?" | |
| The first woman recruit to Esa's astronaut corps is Samantha Cristoforetti, from Italy. | The first woman recruit to Esa's astronaut corps is Samantha Cristoforetti, from Italy. |
| Mr Peake currently lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He is a helicopter test pilot and has a degree in flight dynamics. | Mr Peake currently lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He is a helicopter test pilot and has a degree in flight dynamics. |
| He has been in the armed forces for 18 years. He flies primarily Apache helicopters and has over 3,000 hours to his credit. | He has been in the armed forces for 18 years. He flies primarily Apache helicopters and has over 3,000 hours to his credit. |
| New recruits | New recruits |
| The 37-year-old Briton thanked his friends and family for their support during the selection process. He said: "It has been quite a difficult year and the waiting has been quite difficult during the past few weeks. | The 37-year-old Briton thanked his friends and family for their support during the selection process. He said: "It has been quite a difficult year and the waiting has been quite difficult during the past few weeks. |
| "If it wasn't for the British Army I wouldn't be in this position, so I'm very grateful for the training and support I've received from them also." | "If it wasn't for the British Army I wouldn't be in this position, so I'm very grateful for the training and support I've received from them also." |
| The first Briton in space was Sheffield-born chemist Helen Sharman. She had to secure private funding to fly to the Mir space station on a Russian Soyuz craft in 1991. | The first Briton in space was Sheffield-born chemist Helen Sharman. She had to secure private funding to fly to the Mir space station on a Russian Soyuz craft in 1991. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The six new astronauts are unveiled by the European Space Agency | The six new astronauts are unveiled by the European Space Agency |
| Three British-born astronauts have flown into space under an American flag: Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick. | Three British-born astronauts have flown into space under an American flag: Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick. |
| But the European Space agency says its new astronauts were judged solely on their ability to do the job, not on national government policy. | But the European Space agency says its new astronauts were judged solely on their ability to do the job, not on national government policy. |
| Timothy Peake and his new colleagues will now train to fly to the space station and with renewed interest in the Moon, they could conceivably also get to walk on the lunar surface one day. | Timothy Peake and his new colleagues will now train to fly to the space station and with renewed interest in the Moon, they could conceivably also get to walk on the lunar surface one day. |
| The other new recruits comprise Frenchman Thomas Pesquet, Italian Luca Parmitano, Germany's Alexander Gerst, Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Ms Cristoforetti. | The other new recruits comprise Frenchman Thomas Pesquet, Italian Luca Parmitano, Germany's Alexander Gerst, Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Ms Cristoforetti. |
| "Everyone tells you to follow your dream but no-one tells you what it's like to achieve your dream," said Andreas Mogensen, who has been working in the UK at the Surrey Space Centre. "Well, we've done that today." | "Everyone tells you to follow your dream but no-one tells you what it's like to achieve your dream," said Andreas Mogensen, who has been working in the UK at the Surrey Space Centre. "Well, we've done that today." |
| The astronauts will begin their training in September for a period of 18 months. They will then get assigned to a mission for more specific training. | The astronauts will begin their training in September for a period of 18 months. They will then get assigned to a mission for more specific training. |
| But it will be a minimum of 3.5 years before they can get into orbit. | But it will be a minimum of 3.5 years before they can get into orbit. |
| Pressed about the selection of a Briton as one of the astronauts when the UK chose not to fund manned spaceflight, Mr Dordain said: "I have taken the decision after consultation and there was unanimity about the ranking of the candidates." | Pressed about the selection of a Briton as one of the astronauts when the UK chose not to fund manned spaceflight, Mr Dordain said: "I have taken the decision after consultation and there was unanimity about the ranking of the candidates." |
| Mr Dordain named British-born officials who had taken prominent roles in the running of Esa's human spaceflight programme, adding: "You can contribute with something other than money... you can contribute with expertise." | Mr Dordain named British-born officials who had taken prominent roles in the running of Esa's human spaceflight programme, adding: "You can contribute with something other than money... you can contribute with expertise." |
| Nick Spall, co-ordinator of the UK human spaceflight campaign at the British Interplanetary Society, told BBC News: "The UK astronaut campaign is delighted that a British candidate has been chosen by ESA to join the growing cadre of European astronauts. | Nick Spall, co-ordinator of the UK human spaceflight campaign at the British Interplanetary Society, told BBC News: "The UK astronaut campaign is delighted that a British candidate has been chosen by ESA to join the growing cadre of European astronauts. |
| "Despite its rich heritage of aerospace experience, for many years the UK has been absent from government-organised human spaceflight activity. | "Despite its rich heritage of aerospace experience, for many years the UK has been absent from government-organised human spaceflight activity. |
| "As a result, the nation has missed out on the science, industrial, exploration and inspirational benefits that this international endeavour has provided for the rest of the developed world" | "As a result, the nation has missed out on the science, industrial, exploration and inspirational benefits that this international endeavour has provided for the rest of the developed world" |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |