the maximum thrust
liftoff
.
And
>>
there we can see Tim Peak from the
European Space Agency, the first British
astronaut now on board the International
Space Station.
>>
So Tim, welcome. Thank you for joining
us. 10 years since you went to space. It
seems incredible that that has passed so
quickly.
>>
It does. It seems just like yesterday.
Um but uh it was an incredible moment in
my life and one that I often reflect
back to.
>>
Yeah. A whole chapter. And of course
when you were living on board the ISS,
you were seeing 16 sunrises, 16 sunsets
a day. Does your perception of time
change with that?
>>
It does. Um your perception of time
changes, your perspective of of planet
Earth changes, and the longer you're up
there, the more it it changes. Is
actually a very um serene and tranquil
place to work. We're very very busy on
the space station, but actually being in
orbit looking down on the planet is an
incredible environment to work in.
>>
Life-changing for sure. Take me back to
that day that you woke up in Bikonor,
that rather strange uh town on the edge
of the the old Soviet cosmo uh in
Kazakhstan uh which of course they they
rented from the Kazaks and that's where
they they built the whole space program
uh from for the Soviets and and then the
Russians of course and that is where you
launched from but it it is built in
steeped in in rituals and superstitions
the whole program isn't it? It is
steeped in in history, tradition,
superstition. Um, we actually launch
from the same launch pad that Ura
Gagarin first set off from um on the
12th of April 1961. And and on launch
day, everything runs to a strict
schedule with plenty of time built in
for buffers. But you do go through those
rituals, the the blessing by the Russian
Orthodox priest, the signing of the
cosmonaut's door, walking out to to
music, to the bus that takes you to the
suitup building, um the farewell
ceremonies, and then of course um you
know that trip to the the launchpad
itself.
>>
However well you prepare, there must be
that that human natural human anxiety
about what was to come.
>>
Absolutely. There is anxiety and and it
is the final farewell, you know, to your
your family and friends all there. And
so, um, it's mixed with emotions as
well, but there is a point where you you
say goodbye to your family. You get on
the bus that takes you to the launch pad
and and there's a real shift in focus. I
remember standing underneath your
rocket, the Soyuse rocket, which the
they've been using for so many years, so
successfully, very reliable rocket, and
thinking, goodness me, this is a small
rocket to be going into space. What was
it like actually being on board? It is a
small rocket, but it, as you said there,
it is very reliable, which is very
reassuring. Um, and the launch into
space is is only about 8 minutes 48
seconds to get into space. So, that's
when the rocket really has to do its
job. Um, a small rocket is it's very
efficient. Um, and and and we're trained
for so many times in the simulator. We'd
launched about probably up to a thousand
times perhaps in the simulator in some
form or other. Um, so we felt very very
prepared for what was to come. Does the
simulator really prepare you for the the
noise that very physical sensation of
being being on board uh during launch?
>>
It doesn't prepare you for that kind of
visceral experience and the centrifuge
certainly allows us to experience the
high G forces that we're going to feel
during launch, but nothing can fully
prepare you. What the simulator does, it
allows us to become very familiar with
um anything that can go wrong and it
gives us the confidence to know that we
can deal with those eventualities should
they arise.
>>
I remember you grinning at the camera,
giving the thumbs up. You're clearly
having the ride of your life.
>>
Yes. Um I mean at that point really
you're there just monitoring the rocket
um making sure everything goes according
to plan. There's actually very little
that the astronauts um do during the
launch process other than monitor to
check everything's fine. Um it's only
once the engines cut out and then we
have to rendevous with the international
space station that's when we get much
more actively involved in flying the
spacecraft.
>>
So what's life like on board?
>>
On board the space station is a very
busy place. Um we tend to work from 7
till 7. Um, and we're focused primarily
on scientific experiments. Although
there's lots of maintenance to be done
as well, occasional space walks, cargo
operations, that kind of thing. But
generally speaking, Monday to Friday,
very, very busy. We drop the tempo at
the weekends a little bit, but we do our
voluntary science there.
>>
Yeah. And I remember you you doing a lot
with with microgravity and explaining
how things do weird uh work in weird
ways uh when there isn't the gravity
that we have down here on Earth. And you
took great pleasure in demonstrating
that.
>>
Absolutely. I mean in gravity um it is
has a huge effect clearly. You know 4
billion years of evolution has all been
under the influence of earth's gravity.
So if you can change that parameter and
put put that to zero then interesting
things happen. And when you allow things
to grow without gravity, they grow in a
very different way. Whether that's
fruit, vegetables, for example, or
whether it's protein crystals that we
can study and then find new
pharmaceutical cures for diseases like
Huntington's or Parkinson's or motor
neurone disease.
>>
And that is I mean clearly one of the
prime purposes of of the International
Space Station. It's coming towards the
end of its life. Do you think it's
important that we do maintain that
orbiting laboratory so that we can
continue that understanding of how
things do behave in in low gravity?
>>
It's incredibly important. Absolutely.
And um there are already at least four
serious contenders for follow-on
commercial space stations. So I think
there'll be a continual presence in low
Earth orbit where we'll be able to
access for for research and development
as well. But no, we're we're really just
scratching the surface of some of the
incredible things that we can do in
microgravity. And I think the next phase
is even more exciting when we start
thinking about larger scale
manufacturing. So rather than just doing
the research and realizing that say for
example we can create a metal alloy that
you can't make on Earth that's lighter,
stronger, more elastic than anything
we've got. Well, now let's see if we can
actually manufacture it at scale.
>>
How much time did you get to appreciate
your environment though? I mean, I know
the laboratory itself, I don't think it
has a window, does it, where you're
actually working. So, it's very
difficult other than the fact that
you're weightless. It's very difficult
to to kind of see what's going on
outdoors.
>>
Yes. The main kind of laboratory
modules, they have small um uh hatch
windows about the size of a dinner plate
at every hatch, but then there's a
wonderful um coupler window, which is
kind of like seven windows in one, and
that's where you get the really good
view of Earth. So, if ever you have a a
10-minute coffee break up there, that's
where everyone goes with the camera to
take photos of Earth or to look out at
the galaxy.
>>
And we've seen so many of your photos uh
published since. I mean, was there a
particular part of the planet that you
learned to love?
>>
Um, I learned to love the whole planet,
and that's what I thought was quite
strange. Some of the areas we might
think are barren and desolate, like the
Sahara Desert or Western Australia,
actually seen from space, they're
stunning. They're they're beautiful. The
the oranges, the browns, the colors. um
the Amazon rainforests, the central
Africa, um they really stand out and of
course mountains, glacias, um volcanoes.
I mean the planet is beautiful wherever
you look.
>>
And I guess you also get an appreciation
that it's it's not static. It's a
forever changing. The storms, the the
northern lights or the the you know,
everything is is is just changes the
whole time.
>>
It's an incredibly dynamic planet. And I
think that's one of the most striking
things when you see it from space. we
realize what the planet is doing for us
all the time. Whether that's protecting
us from harmful solar radiation when we
see the aurora at the northern and
southern magnetic poles, um whether it's
seeing thunderstorms throughout, you
know, the the whole night cycle,
thousands of thunderstorms all over the
planet at the same time, whether it's
hurricanes forming in the Atlantic, um
you realize this this dynamic planet is
is really working incredibly hard to
protect us all down here. And do you get
a sense of how fragile it really is when
you see how thin the atmosphere is?
>>
Absolutely. It is just that thin
atmosphere that makes the difference it,
you know, it's different from Mars. It's
different from Venus which could support
life potentially if if only for a better
atmosphere. So we do have to look after
the the atmosphere that we've got.
>>
So how do you think the whole experience
changed you?
>>
Um I think it changed me in many ways. I
think every time we push ourselves out
of our comfort zone, we learn more about
ourself and that gives us confidence
moving forward to use those skills and
experiences in future projects. Um, it's
an incredible place to work at the
cutting edge of science and technology.
The camaraderie u is second to none. The
kind of spirit of international
collaboration um it opens your eyes to
what's possible when everybody works
together towards a common goal.
>>
And what about your health? I mean we we
we know that as you say it ages
everybody by by 20 years. Can you
recover that? How do you try and
mitigate against against some of those
effects?
>>
Yes, that's a good question. I mean
staying fit in space is so important and
that's to help you to come back to
earth. Um actually if you allow the
human body to change into what it wants
to do in space, it would be quite an
interesting experiment but it wouldn't
be kind on the body. So we we exercise
for two hours a day so that we can come
back to Earth's punishing gravity and
not suffer too much. Um so staying fit
and healthy is is just part of an
astronaut's routine to make sure that
you're um as good as you can be for the
next mission.
>>
And psychologically, do you think it
changes you as well? Having that they
call it the overview effect, don't they?
When when you're able to to look down on
on Earth and appreciate in a completely
new way.
>>
It certainly does uh change you. Yes.
you get to see the planet um in an
incredibly special way. Uh and also you
get to see it against that backdrop of
of the vast universe and I think that
real makes you realize how important you
know spaceship earth is to all of us.
>>
Yes. I guess you spend a lot of time
looking down at Earth. Did you look the
other way as well at the the inky
blackness?
>>
You certainly do. And actually, um, you
know, some people think that the inky
blackness is brutal and hostile, which
of course it is, but there's also a a
beauty to that vast blackness of of
space. Um, a sort of serene tranquility
to it. Um, and I think when you see
Earth set against that blackness, it
makes you realize even more how special
Earth is.
>>
And now, of course, we're seeing a new
generation of astronauts heading out
into that void, that inky blackness. Do
you think they are better prepared this
time round? And I don't mean just
because the technology has advanced, but
it's the understanding of from
everything that has been learned from
people like yourself on on the ISS that
they know how the better that how the
mind works, the body will react uh as it
travels through deep space and so on.
>>
Um it's an interesting question because
of course the Apollo astronauts were
incredibly well prepared when you think
what they gone through with the Mercury
program, the Gemini program. how many
people were so focused on that moon
landing. Um, so not to say that they
weren't prepared, but I think with the
new Arteimis program, there's a a clear
vision that takes us beyond just going
to the moon. A clear vision that we've
got a destination we want to go to, the
South Pole where we know there's water
ice. We want to create habitation
modules on the surface of the moon. We
want to have astronauts living there for
six months to a year on the surface and
learning more about the moon and using
it as a staging post to get to Mars. So
I think it's that kind of mindset that
we're returning to the moon with a much
kind of grander vision of where this is
going to take us in just the next 10 to
15 years.
>>
But I guess by living on board the ISS
for 6 months or or more, I Scott spent
how long? It was almost a year.
>>
He was virtually a year in space.
>>
Well, it was quite extraordinary. So
very good uh understanding particularly
when comparing with his twin who's down
on Earth and really understanding how
the body does change. in in
microgravity, the effects of of
radiation on on DNA and and all that
kind of stuff. It's going to be really
important to know these things when we
go for these long duration missions on
the moon or perhaps beyond. Absolutely.
And and we have built on the experience
of of everybody who's contributed over
the last 50 years um since 1972, the
last humans to leave the surface of the
moon. And um and all of that experience
is going into the Aremis program,
whether it's just understanding more
about the food that we eat, the exercise
we need to do um or how various systems
are going to work on our spacecraft. Um
we we certainly kind of stand on the
shoulders of of giants uh and uh and we
really do, you know, admire those people
who have gone before us who have helped
it make it easier for these missions to
come.
>>
You must have a good understanding of
what the crew are going through now as
they countd down to launch it. It it is
coming really closely now.
>>
It is it's really exciting. I mean,
we're looking at just next spring, um,
which is very, very soon. Um, and I
think the public perhaps don't even
realize what they're about to see. You
know, the astronauts going very very
close to the moon's surface again,
orbiting the moon with today's
technology in terms of cameras and and
high definition and color. Um, we're
going to see the moon like we've never
seen it before. We're going to see
commentary from those astronauts. Um and
and it's going to be quite remarkable to
follow that mission. It's going to be
incredibly special.
>>
It will be the far side of the moon and
and not many people see that.
>>
Absolutely. Yes. And of course, they're
going to be spending 10 days orbiting
the moon. So they there'll be a long
period of time where they're able to
kind of reach out back to Earth and and
share those experiences with us.
>>
It is a very new rocket. I mean, how how
do you think they are kind of um
accepting that inevitable risk? It's the
first time that humans have been
launched in it and they are going far
beyond Earth's orbit.
>>
Absolutely. It uh it is a a new mission
with a new rocket and and therefore the
risk is definitely higher. We've had 25
years now of operating on the
international space station and whilst
there have been various new vehicles
that have taken us there and back um
from the shuttle to the sawyers to um
SpaceX Falcon and 9 for example um this
SLS rocket is is only on its second
mission. So there is definitely uh a
greater level of risk associated with it
but again the astronauts are completely
committed to what they're doing
passionate about what they're doing and
um all the experts who are working on
the Aremis mission would have gone to
you know every effort to make sure the
risk is as low as possible.
>>
We know from what the NASA administrator
the NASA chief is is saying that
absolutely determined to get there
before the Chinese. Do you sense this
space race which is beginning to build
once again? And there is a bit of a
space race, but I think it's it's it's
slightly different. You've got, yes, the
Chinese who have got a a very successful
space station in low Earth orbit that's
currently occupied and an ambitious
program to head to the moon and of
course the Aremis program to return to
the moon. Um, and commercial companies
are interested in this. Now the the moon
um has a different meaning this time
round because it's being seen as a
permanent place to go and and stay to
study um but also potentially uh in
terms of resources as well. So there is
this kind of new element of a a space
race. Um I I think we can also do it in
a spirit of of cooperation and
collaboration. Space is incredibly hard,
a very hostile environment. It would be
foolish to not have things like common
docking systems so that we can help each
other out if if people got into trouble.
Um that's the whole spirit of of
exploration is is you know yes okay we
might be coming from different positions
but we're also you know one species and
we're also there to cooperate and
collaborate. Do you sense that although
there might be sort of more public
bluster uh from the officials that that
behind the scenes there is this sense of
cooperation in the past the Chinese have
not cooperated with um the western
nations but do you sense that perhaps
this will be a moment such a hostile
environment where the only sensible
thing will be to cooperate somehow
>>
I think so I think that's one of the the
beacons that the international space
station was it It was this spirit of of
um collaboration and cooperation. Um and
I think as we move forward again we are
kind of uh focusing on the moon as a as
a goal and and that will also embody
this new spirit of collaboration as
well.
>>
How important then given that we are
moving into a new era of space
exploration. How important do you think
it is that that the UK remains committed
to to human space flight to putting
astronauts uh on whatever future
orbiting laboratory there is and perhaps
joining these missions to the moon and
beyond?
>>
I think we need to stay incredibly
engaged with what's going on in space.
We've got a fantastic space industry at
the moment, but we need to embrace that
and we need to help it grow. Um I mean
space is an incredible growth industry.
Um, but in terms of human space flight,
I think what we'll be seeing in in low
Earth orbit is actually the the amount
of people who have the opportunity to go
there increasing rapidly and not
necessarily from a point of space
tourism, but perhaps from a point of
view of employees who may be running
science and research. I I think it's
going to be a bit like aviation where
you might have two professional
astronauts flying the spacecraft and you
might have several passengers who are
going to space to do research, for
example.
>>
Is there a wish for you to go, do you
think? Do you regret having retired?
>>
Well, I haven't retired. I've I've left
the European Space Agency, but I'm still
working with Axiom Space, who's a US
company, and they they fly private
astronaut missions to the space station.
So, I'm still hoping for another trip
back to the space station. But yes, in
terms of going to Mars, I think that is
outside of my my career time frame. Um,
and I I will watch on with envy when
when those first humans do go off to the
red planet. European Space Agency has
said that it will be a German astronaut
uh that will be going on a future
Arteimus mission, Arteimus 4. Um we
don't yet know the date of that, but
that will be to the surface of the moon.
How hopeful are you that there will be a
British astronaut there in the future
and perhaps Rosemary Kugan?
>>
I I would love to see a British
astronaut on on the surface of the moon.
Obviously, we are very much a part of
the European Space Agency and the
European Space Agency is very much a
part of the Aremis program. We provide
the service module to the Orion
spacecraft. So we're we're we provide a
critical piece of infrastructure to that
mission. Um and uh it would be great to
see that that first European on the
surface of the moon. But yes, I'd love
to see a Union flag on the surface of
the moon uh in the not too distant
future. But it is interesting how we now
your legacy is that there is this strong
group of of British astronauts either
formerly part of the training program or
as reserve astronauts or in the case of
John McFall a disabled uh astronaut who
is teaching us new things about how the
body responds to uh microgravity.
>>
Absolutely. I mean we're we're so well
placed in the UK. You know I mentioned
about our space industry but also in
terms of human space flight as well. Um,
and I I I would love to see John get to
space. I think in terms of being the
first par astronaut would teach us an
awful lot. Um, space is a real leveler.
Um, I think it was Samantha Christopheri
who said in space we're all disabled and
we're all learning a new skill. Um, and
we all have to learn how to use our
bodies differently so that we can be as
efficient as we can be. Um, and so I
think in in that respect it's going to
be very exciting to see John in space.
So what are the chances of you getting
back into space then with the Axiom
mission? I know that you are passing
around the hat hoping for uh sponsorship
to get this mission off the ground and
the UK government has said that it will
get behind it if if the money is there.
>>
Absolutely. And that's an interesting
model as well using commercial
sponsorship because uh this is kind of
the environment we're working now in
terms of this new operating commercial
operating of low earth orbit. So there
are so many companies that haven't
necessarily looked uh at space as being
interesting to them who are now
realizing that space is a huge part of
the the global economy but also an
incredible growth environment and and to
be on board with what's going on in
space is very now exciting and
interesting to them. So we are really
enjoying engaging with companies and and
um seeing what it is that they uh might
want to to do in space and and how we
could assist them with that.
>>
Is it going to happen?
I would like to say yes. I think it will
happen. Yes. Um at the moment we're
waiting from NASA to find out who they
have allocated the next two private
astronaut missions to. So I think once
we get that information which should be
coming in the next few weeks, then we'll
be able to say with a a greater degree
of certainty whether it'll happen or
not.
>>
Tim, we can hope it would be fantastic
to see that grin, that thumbs up going
to space once again. Tim Peak, thank you
very much indeed.
>>
Thanks very much.
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