What does a man from West Sussex have in common with Tom Cruise? The fact that his life seemed to be following the films that Cruise was starring in.
There are not many people who have no idea who Tim Peake is, in this day and age, but very few probably know his story. That will soon change, as he has just released his autobiography ‘Limitless’. However, reading someone’s story is not the same as hearing them tell it, their excitement about their favourite moments and the genuine fear that they’ve experienced. Peake is no different. It was so fascinating to hear his story, in his words, spoken by him.
The evening was split into two halves. The first half was about how Peake made his way to becoming an astronaut, his humble beginnings, his earlier jobs, the astronaut selection process, the training he was given at the European Space Agency (ESA) and the launch of his mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The second half was about the six months he spent at the ISS and life in space, plus the dramatic return to Earth.
As someone who is more than happy to keep both feet firmly secured to gravity, it was so interesting to hear from someone who is happy to spend 6 months floating in space, to find out what it’s actually like. To see photos and videos from Tim Peake’s time in space was awe-inspiring. The sights and the way things are managed on the ISS is not something most people would think about on a regular basis, but hearing it from someone who has lived there, makes you look at the world and our part on it as almost miniscule.
As someone who is still relatively young, Peake has achieved quite a lot during his life. It is difficult to say which achievement he is most proud of – going into space or his two children, but he always spoke of his boys fondly and mentioned that his weekly highlights on the ISS where when he managed to speak to his family.
For anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of living in space, then this is definitely worth going to. It is also ideal for any young budding astronauts, to see how one of our own managed to make and contribute to history. Or if, like me, you want to see what space is like, with two feet firmly planted on the ground – Peake definitely fills your curiosity. He is someone that everyone should encounter at least once in their lives – a definite inspiration for generations to come! https://www.timpeake.com/speaking/events/
Reviewer: Jenn McKean
Reviewed: 6th September 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★