>> Read more trending stories

But he didn’t get to explain to the person that his joke was only the beginning of a message intended for his loved ones to say Merry Christmas.

He had called a wrong number.

The first British European Space Agency astronaut tweeted this:

"I'd like to apologise to the lady I just called by mistake saying 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' - not a prank call...just a wrong number!"

The 43-year-old hasn't said which carrier he was using.

Peake has been exploring how the body reacts in space and a tea-making process in zero gravity, according to The Associated Press.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will expand to 48 teams, marking the first expansion of the field since 1998. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman