Tim Peake, the first British astronaut, launched into orbit just over a week ago. But the celebrated spaceman had a little problem connecting with his loved ones on Earth.
Riding a sputnik (satellite) may be easier than connecting with the ones you love from the International Space Station, where Peake joined his Russian and American colleagues on December 15th. During a routine holiday check-in with his family, he misdialed a number on planet Earth.
The astronaut underscored that it was not a prank call. Commander Peake then apologized to an unidentified woman he called on Friday.
I'd like to apologise to the lady I just called by mistake saying 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' – not a prank call…just a wrong number!
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) December 24, 2015
The woman the spaceman called in error said that it was a nice holiday present to receive from above the Earth.
Earlier, Peake, attempting to call his parents in West Sussex, was forced to leave a message as they were not at home when he called.
“It was quite surreal. We’d popped out for about an hour to see our daughter who lives nearby, came home to an answerphone message, ‘Hello, this is your son from the International Space Station,’ Nigel Peake, the astronaut’s dad, told ITV News. “We’re out when he calls! That message is going to stay there in perpetuity, I can assure you.”
Father Nigel also told journalists that he and his wife Angela were planning to have a cardboard cutout of their son that they have dubbed “Flat Tim” at their Christmas dinner.
