GETTY Tim Peake is to become Britain's first astronaut

Tim Peake will become the first Brit to travel to and live on board the station orbiting Earth when he starts his six-month mission on Tuesday. Previous "Brits in space" have either had US or dual citizenship and worked for the American space agency Nasa, or been on privately funded or sponsored trips. The Government has announced plans to make the UK the European hub for commercial space flight and space technologies, with investments in space flight and microgravity research that will give an £11.8 billion boost to the economy. Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "For decades mankind has dreamt of space travel and the final frontier, and from today the UK will trigger the next scientific and innovation revolution to turn science fiction into science fact. "Not only are we celebrating the launch of the first UK Government-backed astronaut, but our first ever space policy will build on the inspiration he provides to grow our burgeoning space industry. "Historically we haven't been a major player in space programmes, this policy will change that."

GETTY The Government has announced plans to make the UK the European hub for commercial space flight

The NSP will also support "numerous vital services" including disaster relief, defence and transport, create 100,000 new jobs and generate £40bn for our economy by 2030. Tim Peake's father spoke of his pride after watching the Russian rocket that will carry his astronaut son into space being lifted onto its launch pad. Nigel Peake and his wife Angela stood yards away from the 162-ft long Soyuz FG rocket as it was slowly manoeuvred into position ready for blast off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Mr Peake, from Chichester, said: "We're immensely proud. As you can imagine, it's quite surreal to think you're the father of an astronaut, especially a British astronaut. So we're very, very proud, and just a little bit over-awed by the whole operation." He added: "We're not worried at all. We've been following his training and know how thorough it is, so we don't have any fears. I'm more worried about him driving home on the M27. That's far more dangerous, believe me, than going up there." Major Peake, 43, will be launched into space on Tuesday at the start of an historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

GETTY Previous Brits in space have either had US or dual citizenship and worked for NASA

The father-of-two, a former Army aviator and helicopter test pilot, is employed by the European Space Agency (Esa) and sports a Union Jack on his sleeve. Travelling with him in a tiny Soyuz TMA space capsule will be Russian crew commander Yuri Malenchenko and American Nasa astronaut Tim Kopra. "Roll-out" of the three-stage rocket took place just as the sun began to rise over the bitingly cold and snow-frosted Kazakhstan steppe desert. Laid on its side, the 305 tonne metal leviathan was hauled out of its assembly hanger by a powerful diesel locomotive and shunted along five kilometres (3.1 miles) of railway track to the launch complex. There, the rocket was carefully lifted to its vertical launch position by a hydraulic ram.

GETTY Peake is set to spend six months in space after he leaves on Tueday

As you can imagine, it's quite surreal to think you're the father of an astronaut, especially a British astronaut Nigel Peake

The grey, white and orange machine looked somewhat unreal - a scaled-up version of a Thunderbirds model. Watching was a large crowd of TV crews and photographers from all over the world, as well as VIP guests such as Mr and Mrs Peake. Onlookers were allowed surprisingly close to the rocket despite high levels of security. Every inch of the track was checked ahead of the train while a circling helicopter lit up the ground with a bright search light. Now and then the train would announce its progress with a toot.

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One visitor, planetary scientist Professor Monica Grady, from the Open University, said: "It was totally awesome. I liked the way it hooted. "It came out on the dot of 7am - rocket scientists know how to do it." It will take six hours for the space capsule carrying Major Peake and his companions to catch up with the ISS, travelling at 17,500 mph. Docking with the space station is one of the trickiest stages of the journey. The whole process is automatic, controlled by computer, but can be carried out manually if required. Speaking before the launch, Major Peake said: "Any time two vehicles come in close proximity in space is hazardous. "The docking needs to be closely monitored and you have to make sure you're on target and on speed."