British astronaut Major Tim Peake. European Space Agency/PA Wire
British astronaut Tim Peake has sent a Christmas message from on board the International Space Station.
He appears in the video along with his colleagues Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra.
Major Peake is the first Briton aboard the space station, and the first fully British professional astronaut employed by a space agency.
Previous 'Brits in space' have either had US or dual citizenship or been on privately funded or sponsored trips.
Major Peake was recruited and trained by the European Space Agency (Esa). The decision to send him into space came after the UK Government started to contribute funds to Esa's ISS operations in 2012.
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