BRITISH astronaut Tim Peake is to visit Glasgow and Edinburgh as part of his post-flight tour of the UK.
Major Peake, the first British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS), will give a first-hand account of his six-month mission in space at the Glasgow Science Centre on October 16 and at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on October 17.
Peake was launched into space on December 15, last year. He landed back on Earth on the steppes of Kazakhstan on June 18.
During his mission, Peake conducted more than 100 scientific experiments and engaged with thousands of schoolchildren on Earth. He also became the first British astronaut to complete a space walk and the first person to run the London marathon in space.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for “extraordinary service beyond our planet’’.
He said: “I’ve been extremely touched by the support of the British public before, during and after my mission to the ISS, and I hope that my post-flight tour will allow me to thank as many of those people as possible.
“I received the footage of the launch parties that were held across the UK after I arrived in space, so now I will be able to attend in person to join in with the celebrations.”
As part of the Principia mission, the UK Space Agency has invested £3 million in the biggest education and outreach initiative undertaken for an ESA astronaut.
Rebecca Evernden, of the UK Space Agency, said: “We’re delighted that Tim will be touring the UK giving his own perspective on his time on the ISS. We hope the tour builds on the fantastic educational and outreach programme that the UK Space Agency has made part of his mission.”
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday.
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