Time to put your helmet on … Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare.
The UK’s Major Tim Peake is, as I write, enjoying his first space walk outside the International Space Station. He has today become the first Briton to undertake a space walk under the British flag. Woop woop.
I heard at the end of BBC Radio 4’s World at 1 a lovely exchange as Tim stepped out of the ISS:
Tim Peake: Okay, I’m coming out.
Tim Kopra: Okay.
TP: Beautiful sunset.
TK: Oh, I know.
Reid Wiseman: Tim, it’s really cool seeing that Union Jack go outside, since it’s explored all over the world, now it’s explored space.
TP: It’s great to be wearing it, a huge privilege. A proud moment.
That was a really nice touch by Reid Wiseman, the astronaut guiding Tim Peake and Tim Kopra from mission control at NASA.
The 6-hour long space walk is being live blogged by the BBC, but even better, you can watch it live on NASA Television.
And just because: