Soyuz spacecraft successfully docks with the International Space Station

World Today

In this photo provided by NASA, the Russian Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft that will carry new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) is fixed vertical at the launch pad in the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. Start of the new Soyuz mission is scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 15. The Russian rocket will carry U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and British astronaut Tim Peake. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)

A capsule carrying British astronaut Major Tim Peake has successfully docked with the International Space Station.

Soyuz spacecraft successfully docks with the International Spa…

A capsule carrying British astronaut Major #TimPeake has successfully docked with the International Space Station. Peake, 43, was aboard a Russian Soyuz FG rocket earlier which took off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and becomes the first 100 percent British professional astronaut to leave the Earth. #UKSpace Read more: https://america.cgtn.com/?p=103313(Video: NASA)

Posted by CCTV America on Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Peake, 43, was aboard a Russian Soyuz FG rocket earlier which took off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and becomes the first 100 percent British professional astronaut to leave the Earth.

Previous “Brits in space” have either had U.S. or dual citizenship and worked for the American space agency NASA, or were on privately funded or sponsored trips.

The father-of-two, a former army aviator and helicopter test pilot, is employed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and sported a Union Jack on the sleeve of his spacesuit.

Travelling with him in a tiny Soyuz TMA space capsule is Russian crew commander Yuri Malenchenko and American Nasa astronaut Tim Kopra.

They are scheduled to spend almost six months aboard the space station, which orbits the Earth at an average altitude of 354 kilometres (220 miles).

Story from the Associated Press.