Tim Peake: Space journey in pictures

British astronaut Tim Peake is on board the International Space Station, six-and-a-half hours after blasting off from a base in Kazakhstan.

Mr Peake and his two colleagues, Russian Yuri Malenchenko and American Tim Kopra, were welcomed with hugs from the ISS's existing crew members after successfully docking their Russian Soyuz spacecraft,

The former Army major and helicopter pilot has not stopped smiling all day. Here's his amazing journey - in pictures:

British astronaut Tim Peake waved goodbye before boarding the rocket at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Mr Peake is flying alongside Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (centre) and US astronaut Tim Kopra.

The former Army helicopter pilot waved to his children before setting off for the International Space Station, where he will spend six months.

The Soyuz spacecraft departed at 11:03 GMT from the launch pad where, in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.

The timing of the launch was calculated based on the precise location of the International Space Station in its orbit.

At blast-off, the rocket generated 422.5 tonnes of thrust - equivalent to 26 million horse power.

From his ringside side in the Kazakhstan desert, the BBC's Paul Rincon said the rocket blasting off was "so bright you couldn't even look at it".

Tim Peake's wife Rebecca (centre) and their son Thomas were among those who watched the launch in Kazakhstan.

This picture, taken with long-time exposure, shows the trajectory of the Soyuz as it takes the new crew towards the International Space Station.

Photographers gathered to capture the moment the rocket blasted off.

People gathered in Tim Peake's home village of Westbourne, West Sussex, to watch coverage of the launch.

It was also was broadcast at the Science Museum in London.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron was also watching the launch.

It took four orbits of Earth and over six hours to reach the International Space Station.

Time of docking: 17:33 GMT under manual control. It followed complications with the usual automatic docking procedure.

He's arrived.... Mr Peake emerged from the Soyuz space capsule to a warm welcome from ISS's existing crew members.

Thumbs up for Mr Peake, who spoke to his wife and parents from space. His mother told him: "I think you would call today a spectacular day in the office".