ESA chooses British army officer as astronaut

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Mick F

we're doomed.. #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 13:33 GMT

..aye doomed!

Still - better than RAF totally screwing it up.

Mike Richards

One unanswered question #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 14:27 GMT

In order that he meet perceived international stereotypes, does Major Peake have a truly splendid waxed moustache and a pipe?

Remy Redert

@Mike Richards #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 14:50 GMT

He might be able to keep the moustache if he has one, but you do understand he'll need to lose the pipe if he's to go up into space. Right?

So much for international stereotypes.

Fredly

Never one to miss a dig at the RAF.... #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 14:50 GMT

...is our Mr Page

"Peake's selection will doubtless have caused some bitterness in the Royal Air Force,"

Chris W

Re: though he never flew in space #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 14:53 GMT

Can you fly in space?

I think that will be my question at the next moderatrix's question time.

Anonymous Coward

Continuing the stereotype... #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 14:53 GMT

Well they couldn't send a Frenchman, the moment he got frightened he'd start waving him white handkerchief about.

jeffrey

@One unanswered question #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:06 GMT

Furthermore, in light of the south koreans developing kim chee for their astronauts, and the indians developing a suitable space based curry: It raises the question, will a group be assigned (at vast expense) to develop a suitable method for brewing a good cup of tea, and will they also be providing a british menu for our brave spacefearing ginger, perhaps jellied eels, pie and mash, a full roast beef dinner, and the full english to wake up to in the morning?

Anonymous Coward

Not real army #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:06 GMT

Still a flyboy.

Might have been different if they'd sent an artillery Major up there, or better a British NCO. ("hard vacuum? - I've seen harder etc..... "

Paul

@Remy Redert #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:06 GMT

Ye. Like all good British Heros he will be smoking his pipe as he climes to the craft, tapping it out on the side, and tucking it in to his top pocket befor entering.

Mike Richards

@Remy Redert #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:17 GMT

'He might be able to keep the moustache if he has one, but you do understand he'll need to lose the pipe if he's to go up into space. Right?'

But... but... but... Dan Dare had a pipe:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12220922@N05/2683800114

The pressing need for a zero-G pipe requires the full application of the best of British boffinry. Since we don't have a DARPA to call our own...

Gentlemen! To your sheds and prepare for blast-off.

J Day

WAFFU #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:17 GMT

Well , I guess it's also a good job no WAFFU (Navy Airforce person) b@st@rd didn't get it !!

The world is a safer place because of this!!!!

Snake Plissken

About bloody time #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:37 GMT

I was at Kennedy Space Center last week (though saw the Atlantis launch from elsewhere) and the lack of British representation is absolutely shocking. Unsurprising, but when you see the pride of the people from the countries working on the various space programmes, it did make me embarassed.

Damien Thorn

genie #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:58 GMT

if he brings a strange bottle back make sure you send it straight back.

We all dream of jeanie, we had a tv show, so we know what can happen with those bottles.

SkippyBing

There's only one F in WAFU #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:58 GMT

Actually there are loads of F'ing WAFUs, but the acronym makes no sense with two.

Christoph

@Mike Richards #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 15:58 GMT

He can't have the handlebar moustache, it won't fit in the helmet.

Uncle Slacky

@Mike Richards #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 21:40 GMT

We do have our own version of DARPA - DSTL (still government-owned IIRC) and (sort-of) Qinetiq. ISTR a TV documentary a while back showing them gamely trying to copy stuff they'd seen in SF movies.

BTW - missing you over on the MT list...

Uncle Slacky

@jeffrey #

Posted Wednesday 20th May 2009 21:40 GMT

There'll be a machine that produces a beverage that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea...

Mr Larrington

And as one would expect... #

Posted Thursday 21st May 2009 08:28 GMT

...the meeja is full of groan-inducing "Space Oddity" puns this morning. Anyone else coming up with a variation on the theme of "Ground Control to Major Tim" will be introduced to my friend Mr Shovel.

Jon Robinson

Would that be the ... #

Posted Thursday 21st May 2009 08:44 GMT

Major Peake of his career then?

Anonymous Coward

re Continuing the stereotype... #

Posted Thursday 21st May 2009 09:22 GMT

I don't think any self respecting Frenchman would go, once he'd seen the catering arrangements...

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