The British are coming --- to the International Space Station in two years.
European Space Agency astronaut Timothy Peake, 41, will be the first British astronaut to fly in space in 20 years when he launches aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2015, the UK Space Agency announced today.
Peake's six-month mission aboard the ISS, as a flight engineer with the orbiting lab's Expedition 46 and 47 crews, may well include spacewalks, wrangling visiting robotic spacecraft and overseeing space experiments, Space.com reports.
"This is another important mission for Europe and in particular a wonderful opportunity for European science, industry and education to benefit from microgravity research," Peake said in a statement.
In training for the mission, Peake, who will also represent the UK Space Agency during his tour of duty, will learn how to use the European Columbus module, U.S. Destiny and Japanese Kibo laboratories on the space station.
His research work is expected to cover experiments in biomedicine, human physiology and the space environment.
No hard decisions have yet been made about exactly Peake's responsibilities will include; besides, his two fellow Soyuz crewmates and the rest of the six-person crew for the expeditions also still need to be announced.
"I am qualified on both the Russian Orlan spacesuit and American Extra vehicular and Mobility Unit, the EMU," Peak said in response to a question from SPACE.com. "I completed that training last year in Houston. My training will continue on the American spacesuit up until launch, so I will be eligible for a spacewalk."
Three robotic cargo vehicle visits are scheduled during Peake's mission: two from California-based SpaceX and one by a Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, also known as an HTV.
"All three will require berthing and grappling," Peake said. "It's too early to tell if I will be undertaking that, but I will be qualified for those tasks."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Peake's selection for the ISS mission is a giant leap forward for British space science.
"This is a momentous day, not just for Tim Peake but for Great Britain," Cameron announced. "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."
A former British Army Apache helicopter test pilot, Peake, from Chichester, England, became the first UK citizen selected for astronaut training by the European Space Agency.
He is married with two children and He spent 18 years in British Army aviation, where he reached the rank of major before becoming a test pilot for helicopter company AgustaWestland.