Tim Peake's spacecraft goes on display at London's Science Museum

Tom Powell26 January 2017

The spacecraft which transported Tim Peake to the International Space Station and back last year has gone on display at London’s Science Museum.

The two metre-tall Russian capsule carried Major Peake on his 186-day mission – in which he became the first British astronaut to walk in space.

It was from the window of the bell-shaped capsule that he marvelled at the spherical Earth and the wonders of space for the first time.

The Soyuz TMA-19M has been refurbished but remains slightly damaged from when it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in June.

Museum bosses hope the capsule’s importance in UK space history will prove a big draw with the public – and possibly inspire the next generation of astronauts.

Science Museum director Ian Blatchford told BBC News the spacecraft was almost an “impulse buy” after enquiring whether it was for sale while in Moscow over the summer.

The Soyuz landed back on Earth in a remote spot in the vast scrubland of Kazakhstan on June 18.

Travelling with Major Peake were crewmates American Nasa astronaut Colonel Tim Kopra and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko.

After landing, Major Peake had his eyes closed and looked exhausted at first, but then smiled and gave a thumbs up to waiting reporters.

Asked how he felt, he said: "Great, thanks. It was incredible - the best ride I've been on ever.”

There is now talk of a second space mission for Major Peake during the period from 2019 to 2024.

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