Major Tim Peake's parents 'thrilled' at spacewalk

Tim Peake was outside the space station for four hours 43 minutes

Major Tim Peake's parents have spoken of their excitement at watching their son carry out his first spacewalk.

Before the spacewalk the couple from Westbourne in West Sussex said they had watched the International Space Station (ISS) fly over their home.

Nigel Peake said: "I gave him Godspeed and a good message from us." He said it was "wonderfully exciting".

Maj Tim Peake has become the first astronaut representing the UK to walk in space.

'Absolutely thrilled'

Mr Peake Snr said: "I was watching the station going over this morning, it was a brilliant pass in clear blue skies.

"It seems quite surreal that your son is up there."

He added that carrying out a spacewalk had been a long-term ambition for his son.

"It has been his total ambition, it's like Christmas Day every day."

Maj Peake's mother, Angela, she had been "a bit nervous" before the spacewalk.

"We are absolutely thrilled. This is a proud day," she said.

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