Major Tim Peake: Britain's first astronaut to go into space for 20 years hails 'wonderful opportunity for UK'
A former Army helicopter pilot has spoken of his excitement at being chosen to spend six months on board the International Space Station.
Major Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station will see the 41-year-old blasted into space on a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan in November 2015.
Today Prime Minister David Cameron hailed his mission as a 'momentous day for Britain'
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Major Peake is the only Briton ever to be accepted into the European Astronaut Corps.
His mission will make him the first UK national to travel and work in space, under the Union Jack, on a British Government-funded mission.
Other British astronauts have either secured private funding – such as Helen Sharman, who flew on a Russian rocket in 1991 – or taken dual citizenship, such as Michael Foale and Piers Sellers, who flew missions on the US space shuttle.
'This is a momentous day, not just for Tim Peake but for Great Britain,' he said.
'It is a great sign of our thriving British space sector, which has seen real growth thanks to our world-class research, and now supports nearly 30,000 jobs.
'What an achievement that Tim was picked for this historic role from over 8,000 applicants from around the world.
'I am sure he will do us proud and I hope that he will inspire the next generation to pursue exciting careers in science and engineering.'
Major Peake will carry out a science programme and take part in a European education initiative before and during his mission, and is one of six astronauts selected from more than 8,000 hopefuls.
'It really is a true privilege to be assigned to a long duration mission, it feels like a real high point in a long career in aviation,' he told a news conference at the Science Museum in London.
'I am really grateful to my family, friends and professional colleagues who are supporting me as I prepare for the challenge that lies ahead.
'The mission to the International Space Station is going to be a wonderful opportunity, not just for Europe and European science but the UK as well.'
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