LONDON -- It's been 24 years since the last British person went into space, but it seems Tim Peake has the whole nation behind him as he blasts off from Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station on Tuesday.
The 43-year-old, the country's first official UK astronaut, will spend six months on board the ISS carrying out experiments and even running the London Marathon.
Naturally, a lot of people were more than a bit excited about the big UK space milestone.
The original rocket man wished Peake good luck
From one Rocket Man to another, good luck @astro_timpeake with your launch and mission! #Principia #spacerocks— Elton John (@eltonofficial) December 15, 2015
There were lots of predictable plays on Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tim @astro_timpeake. Good luck, sir! #spacerocks https://t.co/9qb0YbwCvr— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) December 13, 2015
Future astronauts made spaceships
Good Luck Tim! (from Eleanor & Katie) @astro_timpeake #goodlucktim #ISS #principia #BritInSpace #stargazing pic.twitter.com/TpJOjs8XKw— Duncan Jauncey (@djauncey) December 13, 2015
@astro_timpeake #Principia #GoodLuckTim from Ben the future astronaut :) pic.twitter.com/pIcBw2liE6— Anna Wilkinson (@Annanotherfing) December 15, 2015
Inspiring the next generation to reach for the stars! #GoodLuckTim @esa #Principia pic.twitter.com/a7br5Dt6g2— Eve Hart (@EveHart) December 15, 2015
Classrooms around the country sent well wishes
Best wishes to @astro_timpeake on the exciting journey ahead #GoodLuckTim #inGagarinssteps pic.twitter.com/lhMZPglmFC— The Palmer Academy (@R2PalmerAcademy) December 15, 2015
Some even had a space-themed Christmas play
Our space themed Christmas play is underway! #BritInSpace #GoodLuckTim pic.twitter.com/Q8dAgWAwxb— Lowerplace Primary (@Lowerplace_PS) December 15, 2015
The whole country caught space fever
Granny and I are wishing you a great launch @astro_timpeake! Ad Astra my friend! #GoodLuckTim pic.twitter.com/QfeiloyLyk— Kate AG (@SpaceKate) December 13, 2015
We all felt a bit like this
I'm 34, and I STILL want one of those blue astronaut flight suits! #GoodLuckTim #TimPeake @astro_timpeake— Alex Scott TV (@MercianMedia) December 15, 2015
But there was one person who wasn't so thrilled
Tim's youngest son Oliver, four, cried loudly, saying: "I want to go with Daddy", and was consoled by his mother as he clutched a toy— Press Association (@PA) December 15, 2015