Tim Peake will represent the UK in space

Tim Peake will be Britain’s first astronaut in space in over two decades

By Nicole Hamer |

13:19 21 May 2013

Former helicopter pilot Tim Peake, aged 41, is to be the latest Brit to venture into space. For the first time in at least two decades he will be the first Briton to go into space.

 

The news that Mr. Peake has been selected means he will be the UK’s first astronaut to receive official funding from Britain’s government, according to reports.

 

Mr. Peake has obviously had to undergo certain tests in order to be selected to go into space.

 

He fended off much opposition to become one of the astronauts picked for a mission that is expected to take place towards the end of 2015.

 

It is believed the Brit will be spending six months in space, with his home being the International Space Station, and that during this time he will be a flight engineer.

 

He told reporters: “It really is a true privilege to be assigned to a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. For me it feels like the high point of a long career in aviation.”

 

Other individuals to have gone into space include; Brit Helen Sharman (who was the first Briton to go into space in 1991), Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick, among others.

 

Having been born in the UK, Piers Sellers became an American in 1991 so that he would be able to go into space. Nicholas Patrick followed the same path in 1994 and later ventured into space.