Farnborough, UK – Former Army helicopter pilot and astronaut Tim Peake has been named as a strategic adviser for the pioneering all-British crewed space mission, announced at the Farnborough Air Show on Tuesday.
Peake, who gained fame as the first British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut to visit the International Space Station, will assist the US-based commercial space operator Axiom Space in the mission’s development.
In his new role, Peake will focus on raising business sponsorship for the mission with support from the UK Space Agency. His appointment is seen as a significant step forward for the UK’s burgeoning space industry and aims to bolster the country’s presence in commercial spaceflight.
“I am delighted to take on this really exciting new role,” Peake said at the announcement. He expressed his enthusiasm for the mission, emphasizing its potential to inspire the next generation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“It helps to inspire young people to think about the kind of career opportunities available to them in the space sector,” Peake added.
The mission will mark a historic achievement as the first all-British crewed flight. Although the specific crew members have not yet been announced, the initiative is expected to include four UK astronauts.
This mission will be part of a broader collaboration between the UK Space Agency and Axiom Space, which formalized their partnership in October 2023 to pursue a commercially sponsored UK astronaut mission.
Annelies Look, Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, highlighted the importance of manned missions, noting that they offer significant scientific benefits over unmanned missions.
“We need our next generation to want to come and join, and have a career in space,” Look said. She underscored that manned missions contribute to high-quality science and research, providing insights that are unattainable from Earth.
Tajpaul Bhatia, Chief Revenue Officer of Axiom Space, expressed his excitement about Peake’s involvement. “We are extremely excited that Tim Peake will be joining the team,” Bhatia said.
He emphasized that the mission is not just about the individual astronauts but is intended to have a broader impact on the industry and the nation as a whole. “This mission will have benefits for the industry, science, and the entire world,” he added.
Peake’s selection as a strategic adviser is expected to accelerate the mission’s development and increase its visibility, potentially attracting further investment and sponsorship.
The announcement at the Farnborough Air Show, a prominent event for aerospace and defense, underscores the mission’s significance and the UK’s growing role in space exploration.
The mission’s launch date and further details about the crew will be revealed in due course. In the meantime, Peake’s involvement is anticipated to inspire and engage a wider audience in space science and exploration, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities.
