5 minute read
Meet the Astronaut
JOIN ASTRONAUT TIM PEAKE FOR A JOURNEY TO SPACE
Tim Peake is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he heads to Llandudno next month with his one-man show, My Journey To Space…
The British astronaut made history in 2015 as the first British
astronaut to visit the International Space Station. And now fans can take orbit with Tim at the Venue Cymru on Thursday 22nd September, as he shares the secrets and science of how and why humans journey into space.
My Journey To Space gives audiences a fascinating insight into life as an astronaut, complete with breath-taking photographs and never-before-seen footage.
Tim Peake joined the European Space Agency in 2009, after an 18-year career in the Army. In December 2015, he became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space
Station to conduct a spacewalk while orbiting Earth.
“One thing I never anticipated in being selected for the ESA programme, was just how much my own experiences would inspire and fascinate others,” says Tim, who answers some popular questions below. “I will always be mesmerised by space and space travel, but I am just as honoured to be able to travel the country sharing my story and experiences.”
Can you tell us a little bit about My Journey To Space and what audiences can expect?
The tour My Journey To Space embellishes on the stories in my book, Limitless. It takes you through how I got to be where I am, doing what I do, and what it takes to become an astronaut. I’ve enjoyed an incredible journey – from military test flying and combat mission to living in caves and training
for days underwater.
How did your journey to space begin?
I did quite a bit before becoming an astronaut – had an 18year military flying career, spent time in the
US, in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and as a test pilot pushing aircraft to their very limits. It was an interesting journey really and, to be honest, I sometimes felt like a fraud alongside some of my ESA colleagues… They were those kids at four or five years old, saying ‘I want to be
an astronaut’. I wasn’t that child. I wanted to be a pilot, my passion was always flying – and that’s what I did.
The European Space Agency chose you from more than 8,000 applicants across Europe. How did that feel?
Getting to the point of being invited to join the European Space Agency was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. Just the very fact that we, as UK residents, could potentially join the ESA, the fact that we could even apply to the programme was something of great excitement to people like me. At the time, I was working as a test pilot and there was a huge buzz among my friends and colleagues. Thousands of people applied the very first time applications opened – and out of 8,413 only
around 800 or 900 were accepted through the first round – so
I was very lucky to even make that cut. When we got down to the final 10, with just four places available, the director general
of ESA wanted to meet all of us – and he then decided he was going to actually select six people. Even then, I didn’t quite believe I’d make the final cut as at that time, the UK wasn’t
paying into the human spaceflight programme, so why would
they chose a UK candidate? The announcement was planned for a Wednesday, and I got a phone call on the Monday evening – by which time, I’d assumed it was a ‘Thanks but no thanks’ call. Instead, they were asking me to get to Paris, ready for the announcement. Sometimes you just have to grab an opportunity when you have the chance.
How did you prepare for the mission?
The two years leading up to launch were a blur of activity. There was so much training, so much to learn; how to fly a
spacecraft, do a spacewalk, dock cargo vehicles, deal with emergencies, maintain the space station and conduct all the science experiments. Then there’s medical training too and in any spare time, preparing the educational outreach projects.
So what is it like to actually launch into space?
There’s one word; phenomenal. You do all the training, going into centrifuge to experience the G forces, all of that. But nothing can prepare you for the blast of a rocket propelling you to 25-times the speed of sound. It’s a very violent experience, in terms of energy. Then, when the engine cuts out, weightlessness kicks in, and you’re looking down on to a beautiful planet, and it is eerily quiet.
It’s very other worldly. It takes a while to be able to process just where you are and what you’re doing. It was an incredibly special experience. Luckily, you then get six months to really contemplate it… n
Tim Peake - My Journey To Space is an epic and thrilling journey to the International Space Station, offering unprecedented access, from training to launch, spacewalk to re-entry. Tickets for the event on Thursday 22nd September are on sale now from www.fane.co.uk/timpeake or from www.venuecymru.co.uk
Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9NF 01766 516024
North Wales is full of magnificent scenery - which can be seen at its best from the comfort of a seat in one of our steam trains.
We offer a range of round-trip scenic journeys into Snowdonia - with a mix of heritage and new build carriages you can relax in as you enjoy the passing scenery.
We'll be running trains every day until the end of October. Simply scan the QR code below for the latest information on our train services. Here you'll find details of all the journey options which will be available during your visit - and buy your tickets as well.
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