Down to Earth
BBC Earth|February 2016

Slightly more than a year ago, Major Tim Peake blasted off to spend half a year aboard the International Space Station. Now, several months after his return to Earth, he chats with us about his experiences in space.

Down to Earth

Astronaut Tim Peake became a national hero on 15 December 2015 when he headed off into space for a six-month visit to the International Space Station (ISS). For years, the UK government had been staunchly against contributing money, and therefore astronauts, to the European Space Agency (ESA).

Peake’s six months aboard the ISS were an unqualified success in every sense. He performed extraordinary science and inspired millions of people, young and old, through his tweets, photos and videos. Now that he’s back on Earth, spreading the message that human spaceflight is a good thing for the UK is top of his priorities.

How did you find returning to Earth?

There’s definitely an adjustment period. I almost see it as two: a short-term adjustment and then a longer-term adjustment. The shorter term is obvious because when you first stand on Earth, your vestibular [balance] system is in overdrive and it’s quite obvious that your body has got some serious adjusting to do. Any head movement from side to side feels very disconcerting, and so does standing up or sitting down. When you walk you have your legs a little bit wider apart and you are very careful not to turn your head as you are walking. But that goes in about two to three days. It’s remarkable to watch your body progress. After two to three days everything is pretty much normal. You can balance, and walking starts to be okay. I was in the gym on the running machine and lifting weights three days after getting back, and was feeling pretty okay.

Then you’re into the second phase, which is more gradual. Even now, three months on, I still don’t feel at the peak fitness I was before the mission. I think that’ll take another couple of months.

What was one of the first things you noticed on returning to Earth?

この蚘事は BBC Earth の February 2016 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は BBC Earth の February 2016 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

BBC EARTHのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
World's First Malaria Vaccine
BBC Earth

World's First Malaria Vaccine

The World Health Organization’s director-general hails ‘historic moment’ as mass immunisation of African children begins

time-read
2 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Is River Pollution Putting The Species In Jeopardy Again?
BBC Earth

Is River Pollution Putting The Species In Jeopardy Again?

Ten years ago, it was jubilantly announced that o ers had returned to every county in England. But is river pollution putting the species in jeopardy again?

time-read
10+ 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
The Big Burnout
BBC Earth

The Big Burnout

Long hours, low pay and a lack of appreciation — among other things — can make for a stressful workplace and lead to burnout. It’s something we should all be concerned about, because over half of the workforce reports feeling it

time-read
10 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Putting Nature To Rights
BBC Earth

Putting Nature To Rights

More countries are enshrining the right to a clean environment into law. So if a company or government is impinging upon that right, you could take them to court

time-read
10 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Mega Spaceship: Is It Possible For China To Build A Kilometre-Long Spacecraft?
BBC Earth

Mega Spaceship: Is It Possible For China To Build A Kilometre-Long Spacecraft?

Buoyed on by its successful Moon missions, China has launched a five-year study to investigate the possibility of building the biggest-ever spacecraft

time-read
4 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Are We Getting Happier?
BBC Earth

Are We Getting Happier?

Enjoying more good days than bad? Feel like that bounce in your step’s getting bigger? HELEN RUSSELL looks into whether we’re all feeling more cheery


time-read
3 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
“Unless the Japanese got the US off their backs in the Pacific, they believed they would face complete destruction”
BBC Earth

“Unless the Japanese got the US off their backs in the Pacific, they believed they would face complete destruction”

Eighty years ago Japan’s surprise raid on Pearl Harbor forced the US offthe fence and into the Second World War. Ellie Cawthorne is making a new HistoryExtra podcast series about the attack, and she spoke to Christopher Harding about the long roots of Japan’s disastrous decision

time-read
10+ 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Your Mysterious Brain
BBC Earth

Your Mysterious Brain

Science has mapped the surface of Mars and translated the code for life. By comparison, we know next to nothing about what’s between our ears. Over the next few pages, we ask leading scientists to answer some of the most important questions about our brains


time-read
10+ 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Why Do We Fall In Love?
BBC Earth

Why Do We Fall In Love?

Is it companionship, procreation or something more? DR ANNA MACHIN reveals what makes us so willing to become targets for Cupid’s arrow

time-read
2 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2
Detecting the dead
BBC Earth

Detecting the dead

Following personal tragedy, the creator of that most rational of literary figures, Sherlock Holmes, developed an obsession with spiritualism. Fiona Snailham and Anna Maria Barry explore the supernatural interests of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

time-read
7 分  |
Volume 14 - Issue 2