ASTRONAUT Tim Peake is to return to space.

Chichester-born Major Peake will be heading to the International Space Station (ISS) for a second mission, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced yesterday.

The 44-year-old astronaut had previously said he hoped to go back, saying he would do so “in a heartbeat”.

Major Peake said: “The work that is being done on board the space station is incredibly important and also tremendously exciting as well.

“It is only natural to want to return.

“The one thing you miss is the view of planet Earth, of course.

“It is the most spectacular thing you can possibly see.”

The announcement was made at the Science Museum in London during the unveiling of the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft, which carried Major Peake to and from the ISS for Expedition 46/47.

He spent six months in space, leaving Earth on December 15, 2015, and returning on June 16 last year.

Major Peake said the highlight of his mission was the space walk he conducted with Colonel Tim Kopra in January to repair electrical components on the outside of the space station.

At the Science Museum event, he said it was the first time he had seen the spacecraft since he landed back on Earth in Kazakhstan.

The Soyuz TMA-19M is the first spacecraft within the UK’s national space technology collection to be flown by humans and it was acquired by the Science Museum late last year.

Ian Blatchford, London Science Museum group director, said: “It’s an honour to unveil Soyuz TMA-19M today and extend the space fever sparked all around the nation by Tim’s launch on December 15, 2015.

“What better way to launch the UK-Russia Year of Science and Education than displaying the Russian-built craft that took the UK’s first ESA astronaut [Tim Peake] into and back from space?”

It has not yet been revealed when the European Space Agency mission will go ahead but more details will be announced soon.