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Tim Peake
Astronaut
Speaker Bio
Tim Peake was the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station, where his work during mission Principia captured the hearts and minds of millions. He has a background as a test pilot and a British Army Air Corps officer and he is also a STEM ambassador and best-selling author.
Aged 13, Tim’s dream of becoming a pilot became a reality when he took control of an aircraft for the first time. By the time he was 18, he had already flown numerous solo sorties and been awarded a coveted position to join the British Army Air Corps.
Tim served as an army officer in Northern Ireland before gaining his Army Flying Wings in 1994. He trained as a combat search and rescue instructor and flew operations to enforce the peace and provide humanitarian support in the aftermath of the Bosnian War.
Tim was part of the team responsible for training the first UK crews in flying the Apache attack helicopter. Promoted to Major and with well over 2000 hours of flying experience Tim became a test pilot and was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Special Forces operations.
In May 2009 Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut and after arduous training he was assigned to a mission to the International Space Station in May 2013. After many months spent in Russia learning how to operate the Soyuz spacecraft, he launched to space on 15 December 2015.
During his Principia mission Tim took part in over 250 scientific experiments. He conducted a spacewalk to repair the Station's power supply, drove a rover across a simulated Mars terrain and helped dock two spacecraft. He was also actively connected with the public back on Earth - his mission focused on educational outreach, engaging more than 2 million schoolchildren across Europe in over 30 projects during his time in space. Tim’s New Year message was broadcast by the BBC to celebrate 2016 and in April that year, Tim ran the London Marathon from the ISS treadmill, becoming the first man to run a marathon in space.
One of Tim’s most cherished moments of his mission was having the opportunity to talk with the late Professor Stephen Hawking from the ISS. During their hour-long video call, they discussed many topics from their favourite music to quantum physics and the future of humanity whilst marvelling at the spectacular view of Earth from space.
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Aged 13, Tim’s dream of becoming a pilot became a reality when he took control of an aircraft for the first time. By the time he was 18, he had already flown numerous solo sorties and been awarded a coveted position to join the British Army Air Corps.
Tim served as an army officer in Northern Ireland before gaining his Army Flying Wings in 1994. He trained as a combat search and rescue instructor and flew operations to enforce the peace and provide humanitarian support in the aftermath of the Bosnian War.
Tim was part of the team responsible for training the first UK crews in flying the Apache attack helicopter. Promoted to Major and with well over 2000 hours of flying experience Tim became a test pilot and was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Special Forces operations.
In May 2009 Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut and after arduous training he was assigned to a mission to the International Space Station in May 2013. After many months spent in Russia learning how to operate the Soyuz spacecraft, he launched to space on 15 December 2015.
During his Principia mission Tim took part in over 250 scientific experiments. He conducted a spacewalk to repair the Station's power supply, drove a rover across a simulated Mars terrain and helped dock two spacecraft. He was also actively connected with the public back on Earth - his mission focused on educational outreach, engaging more than 2 million schoolchildren across Europe in over 30 projects during his time in space. Tim’s New Year message was broadcast by the BBC to celebrate 2016 and in April that year, Tim ran the London Marathon from the ISS treadmill, becoming the first man to run a marathon in space.
One of Tim’s most cherished moments of his mission was having the opportunity to talk with the late Professor Stephen Hawking from the ISS. During their hour-long video call, they discussed many topics from their favourite music to quantum physics and the future of humanity whilst marvelling at the spectacular view of Earth from space.
Session
Tuesday, 04 November, 2025 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM GMT
Guest Keynote: How to Survive and Thrive in New Environments
Tim Peake,
Astronaut,
In 2016, Tim Peake returned from a six-month mission to the International Space Station. On this mission, he lived and worked in isolation, confined to a small space along with five other astronauts and dealt with the ever-present threat of space debris, fire or medical emergency raises many challenges. In order to psychologically prepare for this, he trained in extreme environments, including living underground for seven days in vast cave systems or spending twelve days on the ocean floor in an underwater habitat.
Join us as Tim shares how his experiences gave him a unique insight into what it takes not just to survive but to thrive in isolation. According to Tim, ""It's important to embrace your new surroundings and make a positive mental adjustment in order to ‘normalize the abnormal.’” He demonstrates how structure and routine are key to daily life, where you must learn to focus on what you can achieve and not being distracted by factors that are outside of your control. Tim will share strategies to maintain positive mental attitude and good communication skills in new and different environments. ... Show More Show Less
Join us as Tim shares how his experiences gave him a unique insight into what it takes not just to survive but to thrive in isolation. According to Tim, ""It's important to embrace your new surroundings and make a positive mental adjustment in order to ‘normalize the abnormal.’” He demonstrates how structure and routine are key to daily life, where you must learn to focus on what you can achieve and not being distracted by factors that are outside of your control. Tim will share strategies to maintain positive mental attitude and good communication skills in new and different environments. ... Show More Show Less