Revealed: The first-ever British astronaut
Timothy Peake was announced as one of six new European astronauts
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Wednesday, 20, May 2009 05:23
The first official British astronaut has been unveiled today by the European Space Agency.
At a news conference in Paris this afternoon, 37-year-old Timothy Peake was announced as one of six new European astronauts.
The appointment has come as something of a surprise as Britain at present does not contribute to the ESA's human spaceflight programme.
So far the only Britons to have gone into orbit are those who have secured private funding or secured US citizenship and joined Nasa.
Britain's space programme, instead, favours robotic exploration instead of sending humans into space.
The six new recruits were selected "on their merits", Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA's director general, said today after being selected from over 8,000 applicants.
Mr Peak had previously worked as test pilot in the Army Air Corps.
Speaking at the Paris news conference he told reporters: "I believe for me this is a unique opportunity to be part of team that can have such a positive impact on society.
"It's a great privilege and I'm clearly delighted."
The other five astronauts unveiled today were Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano from Italy, Alexander Gerst from Germany, Andreas Mogensen from Denmark and Thomas Pesquet from French.