0:00:06 > 0:00:08This is Blue Peter, but mini.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Expect epic adventures,
0:00:10 > 0:00:11makes, bakes,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13badges, pets,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15presenters and your post.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Major Tim Peake blasts off, complete with his mission patch
0:00:29 > 0:00:31designed by Blue Peter viewer Troy,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34to take his place on the International Space Station,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38where he'll be living and working for a total of six months.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Right now, Tim Peake is orbiting the Earth 250 miles
0:00:45 > 0:00:48that way, and the people that look after him...
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Oh, well, they're, er, they're just in there.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Oh, did I not say I'm in Germany?
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Yeah, and that that is the control centre for Tim Peake's mission?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Yeah, I probably should've said that, shouldn't I?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And because it's Blue Peter, we've got unique access
0:01:01 > 0:01:03to go inside and have a look round and see how it all works,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and that you're invited as well? Did I not say that?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08I probably should've done. It's good, isn't it?
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Since he lifted off, Britain has been gripped by Tim's mission
0:01:12 > 0:01:13and I am, too.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15So, to be given the chance to see
0:01:15 > 0:01:18behind-the-scenes of mission control is a real privilege.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Now, you may recognise this place from all the space movies
0:01:21 > 0:01:24that you've seen, but this isn't a movie set.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25This is the real thing.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28This is the control centre for the Columbus module that
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Tim Peake is inside right now in space.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The International Space Station
0:01:36 > 0:01:39speeds around the Earth at over 17,000mph,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42so it takes a team of flight directors down on the ground
0:01:42 > 0:01:45to make sure that everything runs smoothly in his module.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48And the first person I'm going to meet is one of them.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Can you tell us what a Flight Director does? Yeah.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Yeah. I mean, that's a pretty interesting and cool thing
0:01:54 > 0:01:55that we are doing here.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59We are in control of this module, so we are responsible to maintain
0:01:59 > 0:02:01everything which is going on in this module,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and we are also telling Tim what kind of experiments he has to do.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Well, that is our job.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09This is the position controlling actually the module.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11So, sending commands, opening valves,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14controlling the temperature that the astronauts are feeling.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Erm, that atmosphere, the oxygen that they are breathing is OK.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21On 15th January this year,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Tim Peake became the first British European Space Agency astronaut to
0:02:25 > 0:02:29perform what the guys here call an EVA, or a spacewalk to you and me.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35When they do a spacewalk, that then goes somewhere else doesn't it?
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Yeah. I mean, this is being controlled from Houston,
0:02:38 > 0:02:39which is in America,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43and that is the main control centre for the space station.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Tim and his crewmate had to stop their spacewalk early
0:02:46 > 0:02:48because one of their helmets was leaking.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51So, things do go wrong, and it's the Mission Director
0:02:51 > 0:02:54who is responsible for making sure Tim is OK.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57For the Columbus module, that's Berti.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- So, you're in charge.- Yes, I am.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Are you happy with what he's been doing in space?
0:03:01 > 0:03:02Ah, he's fantastic.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05He's a fantastic team worker.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06He's always in a good mood.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10With all the many tasks he has to do, each minute
0:03:10 > 0:03:13is planned out on his day.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14How do you communicate with Tim?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- Cos it's not like you can just pick up the phone.- But he can.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Er, when there is a certain coverage with the satellites,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24he can pick up the phone and call me on my mobile
0:03:24 > 0:03:25and he calls me in my office.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- That's really cool, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- To get a call from space.- Yes.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Every Thursday around midday, the control centre here in Munich
0:03:35 > 0:03:37gets in touch with the International Space Station
0:03:37 > 0:03:40to transfer information and just make sure everyone's OK...
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Wait a minute - today's Thursday.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45It's around midday.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50I can't quite believe I'm saying this, but the team here have
0:03:50 > 0:03:54allowed me to sit in on one of their crew conferences.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55'Yes, this is Houston com-tech.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58'Are you ready for the ISSA crew conference?'
0:03:58 > 0:03:59And we are ready.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01'I don't know why, but as we wait for the call to come through,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03'I'm really nervous.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05'And then, all of a sudden,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08'I get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to talk to space.'
0:04:08 > 0:04:12'Munich station on space-to-ground four-four.'
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Tim, it's Barney. It's so good to see you. How are you?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Hello, Barney, and hi to Blue Peter.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17How is it up there?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Barney, life on board is wonderful.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Er, we've already had two EVAs,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25one of which I was able to go outside the space station on.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28We're being kept very busy, and, of course,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30when we do get the odd five minutes' break,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33just going to the windows and looking down on planet Earth
0:04:33 > 0:04:34is absolutely spectacular.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Obviously, you're wearing the Blue Peter badge.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39We would love to see what would happen to that badge
0:04:39 > 0:04:41if it was to be in an anti-gravity environment?
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Can you float that for us?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45I've got another badge here for you, actually, another Blue Peter badge.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47So, I'm going to put that up by the camera
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and show you what happens, and, er, it's just going to float around.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Now, the thing with small objects like this,
0:04:53 > 0:04:54that don't have much mass,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57is they float around really easily.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00You know, you let go of them for two minutes and look away
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and they're gone. Now, they'll go all over the place.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Listen, it's been so good to speak to you and, yeah,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06we'll see you when you land. Thanks a lot.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Fantastic, Barney. Great speaking to you, too,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and, er, I look forward to see you when I get back.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12Bye now.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Join in every Thursday on CBBC.