It’s certainly a big day for British space enthusiasts as
Tim Peake, Britain’s first official ESA astronaut takes off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Although, not the first Briton into space, that honour goes
to chemist, Helen Sharman who was a member of the 1989 ‘Project Juno’ mission
which lasted just under 8 days. This was
a privately funded mission, although the Soviet Union covered a financial
shortfall on direct instruction from President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Other Britons’ who had gained American citizenship also flew
on several NASA missions, but it’s Major Tim who is Britain’s official entry
into the space race.
He will spend six months in space carrying out many
experiments, as he orbits 240 miles above the Earth.
Another encouraging thing for me is there’s plenty of
television coverage here in Britain prior to the lift off, which reminds me of those days during the
sixties when real space travel briefly took hold the public’s imagination.
God’s speed and the best of British, Tim.
It's probably a fault with me, I know it's an impressive thing but I just can't get worked up about low Earth orbit stuff. We've been doing it for years and should have moved on by now. This coverage seems a bit artificial to me too, they are scrabbling around trying to find a 'first' for him. Sorry, I'll try and lighten up!
ReplyDeleteSorry you feel that way, Kev.
ReplyDeleteI feel that as this is Britain's official entry to manned spaceflight, and might persuade the British government to have a greater involvement with future missions to, maybe the Moon and Beyond. Hopefully it might also inspire British kids to think about real space rather than just Star Wars.
Fair point!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for a Briton in orbit once more! Not to forget that along with Mr. Peake travelled also Mr. Timothy "Tim" Kopra, of Finnish ancestry. Mr. Kopra visited his grandfather's country back in 2010, when he held a Q&A along with a signing session at Heureka Science Centre. We call him "sisunautti", basically "one gutsy astronaut". Which is not to say they all are, sisu is just the Finnish blend of it.
ReplyDeleteThat's really good to hear you and your fellow Finns get a bite of the cherry too, Arto.
ReplyDeleteIt's been getting a lot of coverage here in the UK. Just been watching the Astronauts boarding the ISS.You might be pleased to hear that Engineer Kopra was first on board :D
Thanks for the info Scoop! Watched the launch live but could not be there for the docking.
DeleteYep meeting one of our heroes in orbit really gives a new personal feel following the Principia project.
Back in 2001, we stood quite a while in line waiting to meet & greet Mr. Kopra, and seldom have I been as excited as then. He signed official NASA portraits for everyone. A friendly and easygoing fellow. I believe this is his first mission since then.