Ground Control To Major Tim

I speak to retired British astronaut Tim Peake ahead of his residency in Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in Maldives, where he shared the lessons he's learned from his time in space.

- WORDS SUFFIAN HAKIM PHOTO EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

In the world of travel and hospitality, Soneva presents one of the strongest antitheses to that.

It recently concluded a stellar installment of its renowned Soneva Stars programme, which offers a diverse array of exceptional guest activities. The lineup offered everything from private dining with Michelin-starred chefs to coaching sessions with sporting legends and treatments by acclaimed wellness therapists.

One of the headliners this year was astronaut Major Tim Peake.

A highly distinguished British astronaut, former test pilot, and British Army Air Corps officer, Major Peake is a figure of global inspiration. Born in Chichester in 1972, his career began with 18 years of decorated military service, in which, as an Apache helicopter pilot and flight instructor, he logged over 3,000 flying hours worldwide before retiring from the British Army in 2009 as a Major.

He then successfully applied for the European Space Agency (ESA)in 2009, beating out over 8000 other applicants. He is best known for his historic journey to the cosmos: the Principia mission. During this groundbreaking expedition, he became the first official British astronaut to live and work aboard the International Space Station (ISS), spending 186 days in orbit from late 2015 to mid-2016. Major Peake retired from the active ESA astronaut corps in 2023, ending a stellar 14-year career as a pioneer of British space flight.

Today, he also serves as an ambassador for STEM education, giving talks and writing several books on the subject.

Guests at Soneva had the rare opportunity to hear him share his extraordinary journey at the Soneva Stars programme. This special engagement, combining barefoot luxury (one of Soneva's hospitality hallmarks) with galactic insights, took place at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in October.