On Earth, this was a grim week ... your mission offers hope, Tim Peake
Welcome home, Tim! It's a sentiment that will be shared by most scientists and engineers - whether or not they are involved in space research. You will no doubt feel a bit rough for the next few days, but you'll recover. Whether your life will be normal again after travelling 125 million kilometres and witnessing so many of Earth's glories from space is a different matter. I am certainly jealous of the experiences you have had and have waved at you several times as the bright dot of the International Space Station moved across the night sky.
In the UK the impact of your mission - especially on schoolchildren - is likely to be enormous. A million pupils have been involved in carrying out experiments connected with your adventure and it will be important to see if this enthusiasm is translated into a long-term interest in science and technology in secondary schools and universities - something this country sorely needs. If such a surge takes place, you could certainly argue that the cost to the UK of this venture will be justified on these grounds alone.
Continue reading...