BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty was left in shock after astronaut Tim Peake made a startling confession.
Peake appeared on Thursday's edition of the BBC morning show (October 26), joining Naga and Charlie Stayt on the sofa. During the interview, Peake gave viewers an insight into how Britain's race to get into space has been ramping up in recent years.
Tim became the first British astronaut to go into space when he flew up to the International Space Station in 2015. Spending six months in space, the 51-year-old received messages of support and congratulations from the likes of Elton John and the late Queen Elizabeth.
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Speaking to Naga and Charlie, Tim recalled some of his experiences of working on the station. He admitted that despite the heart-breaking events taking place on solid ground, working with fellow astronauts meant that a family bond was formed on the station to make sure work could be carried out.
But Tim then went on to explain a story that left Naga and Charlie stunned. Peake admitted that on the way to the launchpad before he blasted off, he had to make a stop along the way to go to the toilet behind the bus taking him to the spacecraft.
"There's a lot of tradition around space flight and everything went well for Yuri Gagarin – the first human in space on the 12th of April 1961," Tim explained. "Everything went well with that mission and the Soviets thought if it went well for Yuri, we'll keep it exactly the same."
The astronaut explained that as a result of Yuri's success in getting to space, many of the same actions he undertook were replicated by future astronauts as a tradition and blessing to ensure a safe flight. This included getting a haircut two days before lift-off, as well as maintaining the same date for the mission to begin.
But Tim revealed that while on his way to the launchpad, Gagarin needed a quick pit stop to relieve himself before heading into space. Since then, the practice has become as much of a tradition as the others, according to the British spaceman.
"On the way to the launchpad, Yuri needed a quick loo stop," Tim explained. "So he jumped off the bus and did his business on the back of the rear right tyre."
Naga and Charlie were left perplexed at the story, with Stayt asking: "Wait, where did you say he peed?" Naga herself was confused, posing the question to Tim as to whether the Soviet cosmonaut was in his astronaut suit when he went to the toilet.
Tim then explained that since then, all future astronauts must go through the similar rite of passage, getting off the bus to relieve themselves before heading into space. Peake admitted he himself took part in this ritual when he embarked on his own mission.
"We all have to do the same. We get off the bus, undo our space suits," he admitted. "For the female astronauts, they've got a container pre-prepared. We thrown it on the back right tyre, fondle with our suits and do them up the best we can and then fly off to space."
Naga was left with more questions than answers after Tim told his story, and resorted to asking a particularly bold question. She asked curiously: "Do space suits have flies?"
Astronaut Tim revealed the suits were incredibly difficult to do up, adding that in total it can take around ten minutes to get the suit ready for flying once the ritual has been done. Naga confessed that she found the fact "surprising", joking with Tim before carrying on with the interview.
BBC Breakfast airs every day at 6am on BBC One.
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