Queen's Birthday Honours: Astronaut Tim Peake received news of honour while aboard space station

Major Peake was recognised for services to space research and scientific education (NASA)

British astronaut Tim Peake set another record when he became the first person to be named in the Queen's Birthday Honours while in space.

The 44-year-old was aboard the International Space Station (ISS) when he received the call informing him of his recommendation for Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Eight days before his return to Earth, he spoke of his delight, and dedicated the award to those who had made his mission possible.

Sending a message from the ISS, he said: "I am honoured to receive the first appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George for extraordinary service beyond our planet.

"All of the training and preparation couldn't prepare me for looking down on our Earth from orbit.

"But this isn't an award for me.

"This is to recognise the hundreds of dedicated staff who have made my Principia mission possible, working together across national boundaries to build, operate and maintain our scientific outpost in space - the International Space Station.

"I am only one privileged person in a complex team of technicians, scientists, engineers, educators, trainers and flight directors, all working in pursuit of one of the greatest scientific and technical challenges of our time - exploring our Solar system for the benefit of people on Earth.

"This award is for them."

Major Peake, who was recognised for services to space research and scientific education, became the first British person to walk in space on January 15.

He said the walk had been the highlight of his six-month mission, which began on December 15 last year.

The father-of-two graduated from Sandhurst in 1992 as an officer in the Army Air Corps and was selected for an exchange posting with the US Army, flying Apache helicopters at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1999 to 2002.

He returned to the UK and worked as an Apache helicopter instructor from 2002 to 2005, when he played a key role in introducing the Apache into service with the British Army.

On retirement from the Army in 2009, he was employed as a helicopter test pilot for AgustaWestland, flying Apache, Lynx, EH101 and A109 aircraft.

He was selected as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut in May 2009 and completed basic training in November 2010.