Major Tim Peake is the first “official” British astronaut to leave earth for a six-month stay

Tim Peake is the first “official” British astronaut to leave earth for a six-month stay on the space station, and do some 265 experiments known as Principia after the celebrated text by Sir Isaac Newton. According to the UK space agency, the programme of science will certainly help to increase the country’s competiveness in areas such as medical research, materials and Plasma physics. The spin-off technologies include memory foam, freeze dried food –derived from manned space flight. Tim Peake also is engaging in a programme of activities designed to encourage more young people to take up STEM subjects (science technology, engineering and maths) in education.

Tim previously an Army major and helicopter pilot had already spent six years training to become the first professional British astronaut to be employed by the European Space Agency. He was allowed only to have a 1.5kg luggage allowance and his lift-off, on a Russian Soyuz rocket with Russian commander Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Tim Kopra, happened at 11:03 GMT.  One minute later, the capsule soared to 7 miles at 1000mph and it reached its desired orbit after nine minutes after reaching 140 miles into the sky, the rocket generated 26 million horse power.

Six-and-a-half hours later at 17:33 GMT their capsule successfully docked with ISS and two-and-a half hours after that, the hatch opened and the ISS crew welcomed the three newcomers on board.