Sussex astronaut arrives safely on the International Space Station

The parents of Sussex astronaut, Tim Peake, missed a phone call from their son from the deck of the International Space Station.

At home in Westbourne in West Sussex, Nigel and Angela Peake spoke of the surreal moment they heard Tim's voice from space. But first.... have a listen for yourself to the answerphone message

"Way better than I'd imagined." That's the reaction from astronaut Major Tim Peake, giving his first news conference from the International Space Station, orbiting more than 250 miles above the earth.

Fred was among the journalists at the European Astronaut Centre near Cologne in Germany, who fired a range of questions to him.

And among the answers: Thanks, greetings and best wishes to his friends and family in West Sussex and his former colleagues at the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop in Hampshire.

Major Tim Peake has given a press conference from the International Space Station, three days after he became the first Brit to leave Earth's atmosphere since 1991. The first question came from our very own Fred Dinenage - and the pair exchanged 'How!' greetings.

Fred thought he would make the perfect astronaut - until he tried a simulator of the Soyuz rocket at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany. The rocket carried Major Tim Peake safely to the International Space Station. However, well into the flight, Fred developed a few problems...

Fred is at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany today - waiting to talk to Major Tim Peake. He's tried out a mock-up of the International Space Station...