Major Major Tim Peake set for space odyssey
British Astronaut Tim Peake (centre) at Downing St, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 20, 2013. Prime Minister David Cameron will welcome the first British astronaut for 20 years to congratulate him on his achievment. See PA story SCIENCE Astronaut. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire
PA
A former Army test pilot is to become the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) – and says it will be less dangerous than his old job.
Major Tim Peake (41) will be the first UK astronaut in space for more than 20 years.
One of six candidates selected from more than 8,000 hopefuls, he will live and work on the space station for six months, starting in November 2015.
Asked at a news conference at the Science Museum in London if he was worried about dangers on the mission, he said: "No, I think my future career is probably far safer than my past career, I've carried out some fairly high risk flight tests. It's not an unfamiliar environment to be working in, I'm not overly apprehensive about that."
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