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/8059999.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| It's ground control to Major Tim | It's ground control to Major Tim |
| (1 day later) | |
| By Peter Jackson BBC News He was picked from 8,400 applicants - 10% of whom were Britons | |
| Army test pilot Timothy Peake says he is still in a state of shock after he was named as one of Europe's six new astronauts, fulfilling his childhood dream. | Army test pilot Timothy Peake says he is still in a state of shock after he was named as one of Europe's six new astronauts, fulfilling his childhood dream. |
| The 37-year-old says he is "privileged" and "amazed" to be given the prospect of a spaceflight - just don't ask him to say that in Russian. | The 37-year-old says he is "privileged" and "amazed" to be given the prospect of a spaceflight - just don't ask him to say that in Russian. |
| Army Air Corps pilot Maj Peake was only told of his selection into Europe's official band of astronauts on Monday. | Army Air Corps pilot Maj Peake was only told of his selection into Europe's official band of astronauts on Monday. |
| Like millions of children before him, he had harboured dreams of space exploration from an early age. | Like millions of children before him, he had harboured dreams of space exploration from an early age. |
| "I had a boyhood dream like many people but the reality always sort of holds you back," he said. | "I had a boyhood dream like many people but the reality always sort of holds you back," he said. |
| 'Ultimate dream' | 'Ultimate dream' |
| "You think it will never come true, so in my case I'm obviously extremely fortunate that it has - I'm in a very privileged position." | "You think it will never come true, so in my case I'm obviously extremely fortunate that it has - I'm in a very privileged position." |
| Maj Peake's acceptance in the European Space Agency's (Esa) Astronaut Corps makes him Britain's first astronaut within the agency. | Maj Peake's acceptance in the European Space Agency's (Esa) Astronaut Corps makes him Britain's first astronaut within the agency. |
| Sheffield-born chemist Helen Sharman was the first Briton to actually make it into orbit in 1991 after securing private funding to fly to the Mir space station on a Russian Soyuz craft. | Sheffield-born chemist Helen Sharman was the first Briton to actually make it into orbit in 1991 after securing private funding to fly to the Mir space station on a Russian Soyuz craft. |
| Training will include becoming fluent in Russian, which for me at the moment is the most daunting prospect Maj Peake Europe unveils new astronauts | Training will include becoming fluent in Russian, which for me at the moment is the most daunting prospect Maj Peake Europe unveils new astronauts |
| Maj Peake has been chosen for missions to the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two Italians, a Frenchman, a German, and a Dane. | Maj Peake has been chosen for missions to the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two Italians, a Frenchman, a German, and a Dane. |
| Any spaceflight would be rewarding, he says, but the "ultimate dream" would be a mission to the Moon. | Any spaceflight would be rewarding, he says, but the "ultimate dream" would be a mission to the Moon. |
| "Yes, that would be the ultimate dream to be involved in lunar exploration but the objectives.... are very challenging and it would be rewarding to be involved in any spaceflight," he said. | "Yes, that would be the ultimate dream to be involved in lunar exploration but the objectives.... are very challenging and it would be rewarding to be involved in any spaceflight," he said. |
| The married recent father said Esa had guaranteed seven flights between now and 2020, which was also the life expectancy of the ISS. | The married recent father said Esa had guaranteed seven flights between now and 2020, which was also the life expectancy of the ISS. |
| 'Daunting prospect' | 'Daunting prospect' |
| Science minister Lord Drayson has "high expectations" Maj Peake would actually go up in space and said his appointment was a great day for Britain. | Science minister Lord Drayson has "high expectations" Maj Peake would actually go up in space and said his appointment was a great day for Britain. |
| He was chosen from around 8,400 applicants - around 800 of whom were Britons - after a rigorous selection process. | He was chosen from around 8,400 applicants - around 800 of whom were Britons - after a rigorous selection process. |
| "I've always been heavily involved in aviation and the space industry and had a keen interest certainly as an Army pilot and recently as a test pilot," he said. | "I've always been heavily involved in aviation and the space industry and had a keen interest certainly as an Army pilot and recently as a test pilot," he said. |
| Maj Peake has seen active service in Bosnia and recently in Afghanistan | Maj Peake has seen active service in Bosnia and recently in Afghanistan |
| "When I saw that Esa was having a selection process I saw this as a wonderful opportunity... to be part of a team that really can have a positive impact on society. | "When I saw that Esa was having a selection process I saw this as a wonderful opportunity... to be part of a team that really can have a positive impact on society. |
| "My earliest space memory was really watching documentaries about the Apollo missions and the Hubble telescope. | "My earliest space memory was really watching documentaries about the Apollo missions and the Hubble telescope. |
| "I was interested in films like The Right Stuff, I watched that many times and found it very inspiring." | "I was interested in films like The Right Stuff, I watched that many times and found it very inspiring." |
| Philip Kaufman's account of the early days of the space race was released in 1983 when Maj Peake was 11 years old. | Philip Kaufman's account of the early days of the space race was released in 1983 when Maj Peake was 11 years old. |
| The spaceman, who hails from Chichester, says his 18-month basic astronaut training begins on 1 September followed by mission-specific training once he is assigned to a task. | The spaceman, who hails from Chichester, says his 18-month basic astronaut training begins on 1 September followed by mission-specific training once he is assigned to a task. |
| 'Based on merit' | 'Based on merit' |
| But he admitted his language barrier was causing him concern. | But he admitted his language barrier was causing him concern. |
| "Training will include becoming fluent in Russian, which for me at the moment is the most daunting prospect," he said. | "Training will include becoming fluent in Russian, which for me at the moment is the most daunting prospect," he said. |
| Maj Peake, who lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire, has been in the armed forces for 18 years and flies mainly Apache helicopters. | Maj Peake, who lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire, has been in the armed forces for 18 years and flies mainly Apache helicopters. |
| Maj Peake and his new colleagues will train to fly to the space station | Maj Peake and his new colleagues will train to fly to the space station |
| He started flying in 1994, became a helicopter instructor four years later and has been a test pilot since 2005, notching up more than 3,000 flying hours. | He started flying in 1994, became a helicopter instructor four years later and has been a test pilot since 2005, notching up more than 3,000 flying hours. |
| He has also seen active service as a platoon commander with The Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland as well as in Bosnia in 1996 and recently as a test pilot in Afghanistan. | He has also seen active service as a platoon commander with The Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland as well as in Bosnia in 1996 and recently as a test pilot in Afghanistan. |
| He married Rebecca nine years ago and has a four-month-old son Thomas. | He married Rebecca nine years ago and has a four-month-old son Thomas. |
| "My family has been incredibly supportive throughout the process, they are thrilled and excited," he said. | "My family has been incredibly supportive throughout the process, they are thrilled and excited," he said. |
| So, too, is Lord Drayson who said he hoped the appointment would raise the profile of the British space industry and inspire a generation. | So, too, is Lord Drayson who said he hoped the appointment would raise the profile of the British space industry and inspire a generation. |
| Maj Peake's appointment comes despite the fact that Britain does not contribute financially to any manned missions to the ISS, making it difficult for Britons to get into orbit. | Maj Peake's appointment comes despite the fact that Britain does not contribute financially to any manned missions to the ISS, making it difficult for Britons to get into orbit. |
| It prefers to fund robotic and unmanned exploration instead but, as Lord Drayson points out, is still the fourth largest contributor to the European Space Agency. | It prefers to fund robotic and unmanned exploration instead but, as Lord Drayson points out, is still the fourth largest contributor to the European Space Agency. |
| Maj Peake said: "I was selected based on merit and Esa's principles to have a team concentrated on expertise and diversity." | Maj Peake said: "I was selected based on merit and Esa's principles to have a team concentrated on expertise and diversity." |
| What message does he have for today's children? | What message does he have for today's children? |
| "Follow your dreams. For me it's a dream come true, it's an incredibly privileged position," he said. | "Follow your dreams. For me it's a dream come true, it's an incredibly privileged position," he said. |
| "Hopefully it will be an inspiration to people in the UK and across Europe". | "Hopefully it will be an inspiration to people in the UK and across Europe". |