First British astronaut has 'great first day in the office'

Major Tim Peake has had a "great first day in the office" and says the view of the sunrise is "spectacular".

Major Peake, who is Britain’s first official astronaut, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday after nine hours in transit.

The crew contacted their friends and family immediately on arrival, with Peake saying he hoped everyone "enjoyed the show".

Travelling with one astronaut and one cosmonaut, Major Peake expressed his gratitude towards joining the existing ISS team.

He told his wife Rebecca of the beauty of his surroundings: "The first sunrise was spectacular.

“We also got the moon rise which was a pleasure to see.”

Major Peake said the crew got straight to work, delighted with their new roles.

“I think we had a great time in the office, that’s for sure,” he said.

Major Peake arrived at the ISS with two companions; Tim Kopra, a NASA flight engineer, and Yuri Malenchenko from the Russian Federal Space Agency.

Malenchenko is on his sixth venture into space.

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Major Peake had the backing of many celebrities and people in power.

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin tweeted his support for Peake who encouraged him to wave the Union Jack for his country.

Sir Elton John and the Queen of England followed suit, jumping on social media to send well wishes to the country’s space hero.

The 43-year-old astronaut and father-of-two has been in training for the past six years and will be completing a six-month assignment on the space station.

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