Chichester astronaut admits mistaking floating Russian space pee for UFO and reveals how to fart in orbit

Major Peake became the first official British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station in 2015 and during his mission earned a Guinness World Record for fastest marathon in orbit. David Lowndes

The University of Portsmouth graduate, who spent six months in space, told The Graham Norton Show: “Space is very black and one day I was looking out and there were three lights moving in formation and then c ‘was a fourth.

“We were perplexed, until we realized that what we thought were distant lights from alien spaceships were actually tiny droplets very close.

“What was happening was the liquid leaking from a Russian probe vehicle, which instantly crystallizes and reflects light. What we were seeing was Russian urine.”

The astronaut appeared on the program alongside Gary Barlow, Nadiya Hussain, Richard Osman and Mariah Carey, who virtually joined from the United States.

And Major Peake also revealed the rigid etiquette aboard the space station when it came to farting.

“You have to be aware of your poor teammates in space, so antisocial behavior isn’t very welcome,” he told the show after being asked a question by Bake-off star Nadiya.

“So what you do if you really, really need to leave the rip is go and do it next to the ventilation fan because it’s just sucking everything in with the airflow.”

The European Space Agency astronaut appeared on the show to celebrate the release of her autobiography Limitless.

Describing the book as “really the journey from kid to astronaut”, he added: “I feel a bit of a cheat because as a kid I had no ambition to want to be an astronaut – I was obsessed with being a pilot.”

Asked by the Take That Barlow star if he was afraid of going into space, Major Peake said, “There’s always a thought in the back of my mind that I’m rolling the dice, but the prevailing feeling is one of adrenaline-pumping excitement.

“Spacewalking feels incredibly exposed and the danger is palpable out there.”

He was also asked if he hopes to return to space.

“I would love to – absolutely. In fact, we’re all scheduled for a second mission between now and 2024. I’m waiting by the phone,” he said.

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