First Orbiting British Astronaut.

Tim Peake 15-12-2015 became the first British Astronaut to live in space. It was a tense moment as the Soyuz floated past the station twice. Commander Malenchenko confirmed he had been forced to switch to manual control. 

After two unsuccessful attempts, mission control said it had lost contact with the craft. On Dec 2015 British astronaut arrives at ISS in Russian Soyuz rocket after Commander Yuri Malenchenko was forced to take control manually - follow the latest updates here Tim Peake propelled safely into orbit after Kazakhstan launch by Briton's Soyuz craft arrives at International Space Station at 5.34pm GMT.  Tense docking in which Yuri Malenchenko took control manually  8 tests Major Peake will undergo in space. In pics: Major Peake's space launch. 18.15 As Major Tim Peake prepares to enter International Space Station as the crew make final checks. Major Tim Peake was this afternoon preparing to become the first Briton to set foot in the International Space Station, following a six hour flight from Earth which ended in a tense docking. The crew were making final checks and will soon be opening the hatch, where they will be welcomed be current station astronauts.

The Soyuz safely docked at the International Space Station ESA 17:45 Commander Yuri Malenchenko forced to take manual control after Soyuz plotted bad approach. The world independent observer, Roland Oliphant was in Baikonur for the tense docking in which Commander Yuri Malenchenko was forced to take manual control. Here is his dispatch from the scence "They say nothing in space flight is routine, and the plan on this mission has changed already. "Apparently unhappy with the approach to the ISS plotted by the automated docking system, Commander Yuri Malenchenko took manual control of the Soyuz and backed the craft back from the station, opting to pilot the ship in himself. "Colonel Malenchenko has about 10,000 hours on a simulator and has done some piloting on previous missions. He is also, of course, an experienced fighter pilot in the Russian airforce - he’s used to tricky manoeuvres. "Chatting through the manoeuvre with ground controllers at Roscosmos’ mission control centre in Korolyov, the headquarters of the Russian space program outside Moscow, Col Malenchenko brought the Soyuz craft back to a position about 100 metres from the station until he could line up with the docking port.

"He then gently guided the craft back to the station, and finally docked with the ISS at 20:34 Baikonur time, somewhere over India." The crew are now checking for leaks before they pressurise the cabin and open the hatch to the ISS. Crosshairs aligned 30m from docking port ESA 17:35 Major Tim Peake arrives at International Space Station following tense docking. After a nail-biting docking, in which Commader Yuri Malenchenko was forced to take control manually, Major Tim Peake arrived at the International Space Station this afternoon. The crew made three attempt to dock before they were able to give the final command. Mission Control confirmed that contact occurred at 5.33pm, around nine minutes later than expected. The crew train extensively for problems with automated docking. Soyuz TMA19M backing away to go for manual docking ESA, Crosshairs aligned 30m from docking port ESA The thrusters firing on the Soyuz TMA19M as it aligns itself for docking ESA 17:15 Docking problems leave crew forced to take control manually, Major Tim Peake was struggling to dock at the International Space Station following a six hour flight. Commader Yuri Malenchenko was heard confirming that he had visual contact with the space station and mission control said that "Crosshairs are aligned" at 25metres a sign that the Soyuz was dead on target.

However just moments later the Soyuz floated past the station and Commander Malenchenko confirmed he had been forced to switch to manual control. After two unsuccessful attempts, mission control said it had lost contact with the craft. The Soyuz was seen floating over the Earth as it closed in on the floating laboratory, lit up by the Sun. The Soyuz has already seen four sunrises today, after orbiting the Earth four times. The final approach to the International Space Station for Soyuz TMA19M ESA The final approach to the International Space Station for Soyuz TMA19M ESA they were 200m from the International Space Station flying 28 800 km/h ESA 17:05 International Space Station comes into view Soyuz prepares for docking. Major Tim Peake is now just minutes away from docking at the International Space Station. The floating lab came into view on the screen of the computer as the Soyuz approached, nearly six hours after take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. "We have the go to issue the final approach command," mission control told the crew.

Live screenshot from on-board computer as the International Space Station comes into view ESA. 16:50 Major Tim Peake and crew just five miles from International Space Station. Britain's first astronaut Major Tim Peake is now just one mile away from the International Space Station. The Soyuz rocket is due to dock on the floating laboratory at 5.24pmGMT. Mission commader Yuri Malenchenko has been talking to ground control from the module and says everyone on board is 'feeling well.' Once docked it will take around 90 minutes before the crew can board the station. The crew spot the International Space Station on their in-flight computer ESA (From left) Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri. Malenchenko and U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra walk to report to members of the State Committee prior to the Dmitry Lovetsky launch. 16:40 Major Tim Peake's mission inspires a generation of British children. Millions of schoolchildren abandoned lessons today to watch Major Tim Peake become Britain's first astronaut in scenes which are likely to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. Children at his former school, Chichester High School for Boys, gathered together to watch him set off and cheered as he successfully launched off. Mike Gouldstone who taught Major Peake physics.

"Tim was a bright, charming, hard-working student. He was an excellent team player even in those days, and was of course good at his physics.
" School children pack out the Science Museum in central London to watch Tim Peake's launch into space Nick Edwards reported the Prime Minister also put out a video wishing Major Peake the "best of luck" shortly after he left the ground. Standing in front of a poster declaring "Science is Great", Mr Cameron said: "Tim, I know you have been dreaming of this day for a long time, and we will be with you every step of the way, watching with admiration and wonder. "So on behalf of everyone in Britain, let me wish you the very best of luck. You are doing us proud." In Edinburgh, children gathered to watch the start of Major Peake's mission at the National Museum of Scotland. Children celebrate at the Science Museum in London as crowds gathered in the Science Museum in London to witness the liftoff, with thousands of people including around 2,000 schoolchildren breaking into screams and waving British flags as giant screens set up in the exhibition hall showed the rocket blasting off.