British astronaut Tim Peake talks about his space mission - podcast

Tim Peake tells Ian Sample about ESA's Principia mission, how to use a jetpack, and why flying into space won't be the most dangerous thing he's ever done

Tim Peake is a 43-year-old former army officer and test pilot, who - in 2009 - became the first British citizen to be selected as an astronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Tim beat over 8,000 applicants to be selected for one of only six places on ESA's new astronaut training programme, meaning he'll be the first Briton to fly into space without a private contract or having taken American citizenship.