Behindtheheadlines
TIM Peake, the first British astronaut aboard the International Space Station, has returned to Earth after six months in space. The 44-year-old came home nearly two weeks later than first planned after the European Space Agency extended his stay to keep the station at full capacity with six astronauts.
After spending so long in zero gravity he has had to take special steps to prepare his body for conditions on Earth such as “salt loading” to help his body absorb more water, as his body holds less water in space, leaving him at risk of becoming dehydrated when he returns home.
During his 186 days in space the former Army Air Corps flier ran science activities for one million British children via satellite link.
He spoke through a radio link to pupils in Powys at an event in Builth Wells High School in March, telling youngsters he’d been following the Six Nations but the picture quality was better on earth than in space.
That came just days after he sent the people of Wales a special St David’s Day message from space – even trying his hand at Welsh with a “croeso” and “iechyd da”.
He also said the views of Snowdon, the Brecon Beacons and the Valleys were “beautiful” from space.
He later tweeted a picture of snow-capped Welsh hills with the message: “I think I’ve climbed all of those thanks to the @BritishArmy.”
And he got a special delivery to the ISS during his deployment in space after six youngsters from the Rhondda sent him some water fleas as part of an experiment to win Mission Discovery 2013.
Here are some of Tim’s other highlights from his space odyssey: Day One – December 15, 2015 Tim blows a kiss to sons Tom and Oliver before blasting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, aboard a Russian rocket at 11.03am.
It takes him less than 10 minutes to leave Earth’s atmosphere. After a few tense minutes orbiting the planet his capsule locks on to the International Space Station. Day Four Performs shaky somersaults during first press conference from space and admits he still hadn’t mastered zero gravity.
“The first 24 hours in space are pretty rough,” he says.
“Every time you move your head your ears send signals to the brain that do not really match your eyes so you feel dizzy.” Day Five Surprises his parents by leaving a voicemail from space. Dad Nigel Peake describes the message as “surreal” and says it will stay on their answerphone “in perpetuity”. Day 10 Takes to Twitter to apologise for a “prank call” when he accidentally dials a wrong number and calls a stranger from space.
He asks retired teacher Betty Barker “Is this planet Earth?” and she replies “No” assuming someone is playing a practical joke on her. Tim sends the first God Save The Queen message directly to Her Majesty from space to thank her for her own message wishing him well.
Tim says: “I am humbled to be able to represent the UK and Europe onboard the ISS. It is incredible to look at the British Isles for the first time from space.” Day 32 Tim takes his first space walk to carry out repairs on the outside of the International Space Station – 250 miles above the Earth.
He manages to take a spectacular space selfie before being forced to cut short his space walk after four hours and 43 minutes because his US colleague reports water in his helmet. Tim plays ping pong with a water bubble in zero gravity as he turns the space station into a cosmic classroom, performing experiments for 300,000 schoolchildren in the UK via satellite link.
He also answers questions for the children. He tells them: “We are so privileged – we get to work up here all day, it’s like a playground of weightlessness.” Day 54 Tim wears his England shirt to introduce a international rugby match between England and Scotland for the BBC’s Six Nations coverage. Day 58 Tim posts a stunning timelapse video of lightning on Earth recorded from the International Space Station as it flies over North Africa and Turkey.
He says: “Amazing how much lightning can strike our planet in a short time.” Tim reduces pop star Adele to tears by donning a tuxedo-print T-shirt and posing in front of a Union Jack to present her with a Brit Award for Global Success via videolink to the O2 Arena in London.
Tim takes the opportunity to assure Adele: “We’re all huge fans up here.” Tim posts a video of himself playing Space Invaders with crewmate Scott Kelly as the pair use the game to test