First Briton in space

Wonder what it costs us and what will this planet gain , we live on a planet gripped by war , hunger etc and we go nosing in space . This country is closing down such basic things as libraries in rural areas but find money for one man to explore space. I realy think it so wrong but accept some find it exciting

I was in tears watching his lovely wee boy counting down and saying "byebye Daddy". All I could think of was that David Bowie song "Ground control to Major Tom". I'm not interested in the slightest in space stuff but really hope Tim makes it back safely to his lovely family.

I've just this minute seen Tim Peake floating into the ISS and my heart skipped a beat. I was definitely born 50 years too soon!

I can't get excited about this, nor any space exploration.
I just want to know what it's costing the British taxpayer while thousands of families face a miserable Christmas, disabled children wait for wheelchairs or speech therapy, old people are isolated without buses or get home help in 10 minute rations. And so on and so on. Why is there such deprivation in such a wealthy country?
There are vast sums of money for Tim Peake and for bombs dropped on Syria, there's less and less for the poor, ill or disadvantaged.

Where do the BBC get their information from? Helen Sharman was born here in Sheffield and studied Sheffield University. As far as i know her British citizenship has never been in doubt. Her flight was sponsored by the russians and a consortium of British businesses. I was full of emotion watching Tim Peake today. I watched him waving at his son through the glasss window and it was heartbreaking. His wife is a very brave lady. I would have locked him in a cupboard until the rocket took off!

As a pessimistic person who suffers from claustrophobia and fear of heights I was a wreck...especially after watching the programme about him that said how many rocket thingy's had blown up recently . My theory on life is that the more we 'big something up' the more chance there is of something going wrong . I never got over the other one [Challenger???].

Thought it said Fern Britton in space at first glance

Just saw him go- what an emotional moment!!! I had to put a few drops of brandy in my coffee!!

Simply amazing. I would love to be him.

It does say on the BBC website that Tim is the first official UK astronaut. Previous "British" astronauts have either had US citizenship and worked for Nasa or been privately funded.

Everything I have seen refers to Tim as the first Briton to work on the ISS. Helen is at the Science Museum with the presenters and they will be speaking to her during the programme. They've acknowledged Helen several times already. It is a shame though that they don't have her along side the presenters, although she's with another legendary cosmonaut, so maybe she's his guide or something.

There's great excitement around here because Tim and his family live in the same village as DD and her family - just 1 mile from us! I think they are all so brave to do this exploration of space - it would scare me to death and I would be so anxious about getting back to earth. Go safely Tim!

I'm going to be watching the lift off and wishing Tim well he seems like an incredible human being. God Bless him.