You remember we have been following the space expedition process of Tim Peake to the International Space Station, the first British astronaut to be so sponsored by his government. We started with the preparatory process, to talking about the space craft, the rocket, and quick facts about the launch site, Baikonur .
The Rocket that Launches Astronauts to Space (2)
Tim Peake finally blasted off to space today aboard the Soyuz space capsule along with Russian, Yuri Malenchenko, and American Tim Kopra, and will spend six months on the station. They lifted off from the same launch pad that launched Yuri Gagarin – the first human in space.
While aboard the ISS, Tim Peake will conduct scientific experiments and carry out educational projects designed to attract young people into science. He is also the first Briton to join the crew of the ISS, and is employed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Space Craft that Takes Astronauts to Space and Back (1)
On arrival, he and his two companions will join the three people already on board, including NASA astronaut Scott Kelly who is spending a year on the orbiting station as part of a medical research programme.
Other Britons who have flown into space did so either as private individuals – Richard Garriott and Mark Shuttleworth – or by taking US citizenship – the NASA astronauts Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick. Another British-born NASA astronaut, Michael Foale, already had dual citizenship through his US mother.
It is expected that the space craft will dock at the ISS at 17:24 GMT (that is, 6: 24pm Nigerian time).
Watch the 1:10s video of the launch.
See Also: How Astronauts Train For Space Missions
