Anthony Peake, born April 7, 1972, is a retired British astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) and a former officer in the Army Air Corps. He embarked on his intensive astronaut training in 2009, graduating in 2010. His military career included extensive helicopter piloting and instructor qualifications, culminating in his service as a test pilot after 17 years and over 3,000 flying hours.

Peake was selected for the ESA astronaut corps in 2009, becoming the first British person to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) without private funding or foreign citizenship. His missions included participating in the ESA CAVES mission, simulating extreme conditions, and serving as an aquanaut in the NEEMO 16 undersea exploration mission. He launched to the ISS in December 2015, returning in June 2016 after completing approximately 3,000 orbits. Peake has also expressed strong support for international collaboration in space exploration, viewing the ISS as a model for future endeavors.

Before his space career, Anthony Peake served for 17 years in the Army Air Corps, accumulating over 3,000 flying hours. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and became a qualified helicopter pilot in 1994, later qualifying as an instructor. His expertise extended to test piloting, graduating from the Empire Test Pilots School and receiving an award for his rotary-wing performance. He concluded his military service in 2009, transitioning to a role as a test pilot with AgustaWestland.

In 2009, Peake was chosen from over 8,000 applicants to join the ESA astronaut corps. His training included simulations of extreme environments, such as the ESA CAVES mission in Sardinia and the NEEMO 16 undersea exploration as an aquanaut. He achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first British astronaut to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on a non-private, non-foreign citizenship basis. During his mission on the ISS in 2015-2016, he participated in spacewalks and became the first Briton to conduct a spacewalk outside the station.

Anthony Peake is a vocal proponent of international cooperation in space exploration, advocating for the International Space Station partnership to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He views collaborative projects like the ISS as essential for future space endeavors, particularly given global budget constraints. Peake has also engaged in public outreach, serving as an ambassador for STEM Learning, the Prince's Trust, and the Scout Association. He has authored several books, including personal accounts of his space experiences and guides to space exploration.

“I was delighted to read about the International Space Station and the discussions about it being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because … it has been one of the most incredible international partnerships...[The ISS] really has brought many nations together through difficult times, and continues to do so.”

“I think [the ISS] really has to be the model for future space exploration because with budgets becoming more and more constrained, then, really one nation is not going to have the capability to expand exploration out into the solar system, to Mars and beyond. We are going to have to work together on projects.”