In 1992, Tim Peake served as an Army Air Corps officer and was deployed on military operations in both Afghanistan and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. He was also involved in the testing of military helicopters. After graduating to the role of major he left the British Army after 18 years of service. Soon after, he was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009.
In the following years, Tim would spend time training and communicating with the International Space Station before he was first assigned to a mission in 2013. In 2015 he would be sent to the International Space Station with crewmates, Tim Kopra and Yuri Malenchenko as a flight engineer on board Soyuz TMA-19M. In his first mission, Tim was required to make a spacewalk to repair the power supply at the station, making him the first Brit in history to do so. Footage of the spacewalk was broadcast live across Europe, and in one of many videos Tim has appeared in with a goal of engaging students.
His #CosmicClassroom videos made throughout his mission, gave students a chance to ask Tim questions at the International Space Station, as well as a chance for him to show them how everyday things are done in space, from brewing coffee to doing a somersault. He would perform light-hearted and serious experiments throughout his time there, and he even ran the London Marathon from space. The videos, part of the UKSA's education programme, have already engaged over 2 million schoolchildren across Europe.
Following his six month mission, Tim returned to planet earth in the summer of 2016, landing in Kazakhstan where he was met with members of the world's media, before being allowed to reacclimatise to Earth and speak to his family. Over the coming weeks he would feature prominently on BBC Breakfast, This Morning and other mainstream media.
Tim has authored bestselling books including Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space, Hello, is this planet Earth: My View from the International Space Station and The Astronaut Selection Test Book: Do You Have What it Takes for Space?
Tim has taken leave for two years to concentrate on personal and career development, something that is common for astronauts between missions. He has spoken of his desire to return to space for a second mission, doing so in 2019 when he appeared on Lorraine. In addition to his commitments with the space agency, Tim is one of the UK's STEM ambassadors, as well as an ambassador for the Scout Association and the Prince's Trust. He is a world-renowned after dinner, keynote and space speaker ideal for all types of event.
