Tim Peake is a British former ESA astronaut, Army Air Corps officer, and author, born on 7 April 1972 in Chichester, West Sussex, England. According to his ESA biography, he was selected as an astronaut in May 2009 and became the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station.
His route to orbit ran through the British military. The Encyclopaedia Britannica notes that he trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, graduated in 1992, and later completed the Empire Test Pilots’ School in 2005.
The six-month Principia mission in 2015–2016 turned him into one of the most recognisable figures in British spaceflight. He has since added author and public speaker to his list of roles, and public interest in his family, books, and financial standing has remained high.
What Did Tim Peake Do in Space?
Peake launched to the International Space Station on 15 December 2015 aboard Soyuz TMA-19M, alongside NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and Russian commander Yuri Malenchenko. The six-month flight was the Principia mission, and it marked the first time a British ESA astronaut had lived and worked on the station.
Key insights from his career:
- First British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station.
- First official British astronaut to walk in space.
- Took part in more than 250 scientific experiments during the Principia mission.
- Reported author of ‘Ask an Astronaut’ and ‘Hello, Is This Planet Earth?’.
- Educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Empire Test Pilots’ School.
- Married with two sons, according to ESA.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Timothy Nigel Peake |
| Born | 7 April 1972, Chichester, West Sussex, England |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) – reported, not confirmed by official sources |
| Spouse | Rebecca Peake – name appears in secondary sources |
| Children | Two sons, according to ESA |
| Education | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (BA); Cranfield University (MSc, reported) |
| Space Agency | European Space Agency (ESA) |
| ESA Selection | May 2009 |
| Space Mission | Soyuz TMA-19M (Principia), December 2015 – June 2016 |
| Time on ISS | 186 days |
| Spacewalk | 15 January 2016; reported duration of 4 hours 43 minutes |
| Books | ‘Hello, Is This Planet Earth?’; ‘Ask an Astronaut’; ‘Space: The Human Story’ (reported titles) |
During the mission, Peake carried out a spacewalk to help repair the station’s power system, making him the first official British astronaut to walk in space. Alongside that work, he contributed to an extensive scientific programme aboard the station, as documented in ESA’s mission report.
His assignment covered ISS Expeditions 46 and 47, and his photographs from orbit were widely shared. Sky at Night Magazine has featured selections of his space photography.
Peake returned to Earth on 18 June 2016, landing with Kopra and Malenchenko in the same Soyuz spacecraft that had carried them into orbit.
What Is Tim Peake’s Background and Education?
Where Was Tim Peake Born?
Peake was born in Chichester, West Sussex, on 7 April 1972, a date confirmed by multiple public sources, including BBC Bitesize. His full name is Timothy Nigel Peake, according to Wikipedia. Based on his birth date, he was 54 years old as of October 2026.
What Military and Academic Training Did Tim Peake Receive?
Peake graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1992 and completed the Empire Test Pilots’ School in 2005. Several biographical summaries also list a master’s degree in flight dynamics from Cranfield University.
Before joining ESA, he served as an Army Air Corps officer and flew Apache helicopters.
How Did Tim Peake Become an Astronaut?
Peake was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009, according to his UK government profile. He completed basic training and was later assigned to an ISS expedition as part of the Principia mission.
What Is Known About Tim Peake’s Family?
ESA’s official biography says Peake is married and has two sons. The public biographical sources do not name his wife or provide further family details.
The name Rebecca Peake appears in some secondary sources and is widely repeated online. It is not confirmed in ESA’s astronaut biography or in UK government profiles.
What Books Has Tim Peake Written?
Peake is described as an author in his Audible author profile and in biographical encyclopedias. The public material confirms the author role, but it does not include a complete list of every published title.
Which Book Titles Are Associated with Tim Peake?
The titles most commonly linked to Peake in biographical summaries are ‘Hello, Is This Planet Earth?’, ‘Ask an Astronaut’, and ‘Space: The Human Story’. These appear consistently in published overviews of his career.
What Do the Books Cover?
The available public sources do not include detailed synopses of Peake’s books. What can be stated with confidence is that the titles are all directly connected to space exploration and to Peake’s experience as an astronaut.
The three titles listed here are widely associated with Tim Peake in biographical summaries and author profiles. The official sources reviewed do not include a complete bibliography, and publication dates are not covered.
What Is Tim Peake’s Net Worth?
Tim Peake’s net worth has not been disclosed by ESA, the UK government, or Peake himself. Every figure in circulation is an estimate, and the estimates vary.
Some sources suggest a figure between £1 million and £5 million. Others narrow the range to roughly £2–3 million, citing his ESA salary, book royalties, and speaking fees as the main sources of income. None of these figures can be traced to an official disclosure.
Public agencies do not publish individual astronaut salaries, and book royalties are private. Estimates for Tim Peake’s net worth range from £1 million to £5 million in the reviewed material, and none are official.
Where Can I See Tim Peake Live?
Tim Peake appears at live events in the UK and internationally, with engagements that include speaking appearances and book signings.
Upcoming dates and locations are published on his official website. A consolidated calendar of his appearances is not available from public sources.
How Did Tim Peake’s Career Develop Over Time?
The key dates below trace Peake’s journey from his birth in Chichester to his work as an author and speaker.
- – born in Chichester, West Sussex, England.
- – graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
- – completed the Empire Test Pilots’ School.
- – selected as an ESA astronaut.
- – launched to the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-19M.
- – completed a spacewalk to repair the station’s power system.
- – returned to Earth with Tim Kopra and Yuri Malenchenko.
- – retired from ESA and continues as a public speaker and author.
The Soyuz spacecraft used for the flight was later acquired by the Science Museum Group. ESA’s image archive also includes coverage of the Soyuz TMA-19M launch.
What Is Confirmed About Tim Peake—and What Remains Uncertain?
Most of what is known about Tim Peake comes from official biographies maintained by ESA and the UK government. Some details, however, are not covered by those sources.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Tim Peake is a former ESA astronaut who flew the Principia mission. | Net worth figures vary widely; no official disclosure exists. |
| He is married and has two children, according to ESA. | His wife’s name is not confirmed in official public sources. |
| He has authored multiple books, according to his author profiles. | A complete bibliography and future book releases have not been confirmed. |
| He performed the first official British spacewalk during the Principia mission. | His height, often reported as 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in), is not supported by an official source. |
Why Is Tim Peake Significant in British Space History?
Tim Peake’s Principia mission gave the UK a sustained human presence on the International Space Station through ESA for the first time. His flight included a spacewalk, a dense scientific programme, and education outreach, all of which made the mission a landmark for the UK Space Agency’s partnership with ESA.
Peake also fits into a longer British space story that includes earlier figures such as Helen Sharman. His post-astronaut career as an author and public speaker follows a path common among former astronauts, many of whom become ambassadors for science education after leaving active service.
What Are the Most Reliable Sources on Tim Peake?
ESA’s astronaut biography and the UK government’s official profile are the primary authoritative sources for Peake’s career. Both cover his selection, his mission, and his family status as recorded by ESA.
Wikipedia’s entry on Tim Peake compiles much of the same information with citations. For his books and public appearances, his own website and commercial author profiles are the main reference points. The Science Museum Group has also published material about the acquisition of his Soyuz spacecraft.
Official sources do not provide details on Peake’s height, net worth, or the name of his wife. Information on those subjects comes from secondary sources.
What Is Tim Peake’s Lasting Legacy?
Tim Peake’s legacy rests on being the first British ESA astronaut to live and work on the International Space Station. The Principia mission, his spacewalk, and his later career as an author gave the UK a lasting connection to human spaceflight, and his public role continues to make space exploration feel accessible to a wide audience.
What Else Do People Ask About Tim Peake?
What is Tim Peake’s exact height?
Tim Peake is widely reported as 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) tall, though this figure does not come from an official public source.
Who is Tim Peake’s wife?
ESA confirms Peake is married, but public biographical sources do not name his wife. Some secondary sources use the name Rebecca Peake, but it is not confirmed by official profiles.
Where did Tim Peake go to school?
He trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, graduating in 1992, and completed the Empire Test Pilots’ School in 2005.
Has Tim Peake retired from ESA?
Yes. He retired from ESA and continues as a public speaker and author.
How many books has Tim Peake written?
Three titles are commonly listed: ‘Hello, Is This Planet Earth?’, ‘Ask an Astronaut’, and ‘Space: The Human Story’. A complete official bibliography is not available.
How long was Tim Peake in space?
He spent 186 days on the International Space Station during the Principia mission.
Did Tim Peake do a spacewalk?
Yes. On 15 January 2016 he performed a spacewalk, reported as lasting 4 hours 43 minutes, to help repair the station’s power system.
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Events Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, covering restaurants, nightlife, theatre, exhibitions, festivals and city life.