Tim was a helicopter test pilot before joining the ESA astronaut corps in 2009. He is the third ESA astronaut from the new class of 2009 to be assigned a mission to the International Space Station.
The news comes as a culmination of 18 years of flight experience for the British Army and as a civilian pilot. An intense training schedule awaits Tim as he flies around the world to learn Space Station procedures from the international partners that built and operate the orbital outpost: Canada, USA, Russia, Japan and Europe.
Prime Minister David Cameron wished Tim well and said: “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.”
Tim’s classmate ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is heading for the International Space Station next week on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Alexander Gerst and Samantha Cristoforetti will follow one year later in 2014. Andreas Mogensen and Thomas Pesquet will fly before 2017.
- Timothy Peake multimedia gallery http://www.esa.int/esa-mmg/mmg.pl?topic=&subtopic=&subm1=GO&keyword=Timothy+Peake
- Timothy Peake images http://spaceinimages.esa.int/content/search?SearchText=Timothy+Peake&img=1&SearchButton=Go
- European Astronaut Selection http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/European_Astronaut_Selection
