The Shenzhou themselves are based on Russia's Soyuz craft but, according to Phillip Clark, a British-based consultant and expert on the Chinese space programme, they are not a straight knock-off.

ECONOMIST: China in space

The German space agency (DLR), one of the "big two" in European space, is already pushing forward on a programme of scientific co-operation.

BBC: China in space: Running fast to catch up

But as a partner on the ISS programme, and following an agreement to extend space station operations until 2020, Europe has the right to claim a long-duration ISS residency of six months roughly every two years.

BBC: Major Tim Peake says he is not too old to go into space

Successive British governments have not funded any astronaut activities, and so the only Britons to get into space so far have done so by becoming US citizens and joining the American space agency, or by getting on a private programme of some kind.

BBC: 'UK spaceman' Nicholas Patrick honoured

"I thank the men and women of Nasa who have dedicated themselves to putting our space programme back on track, " he said in a statement.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Discovery blasts off from Florida

His mission will make him the first UK national to live and work in space, and to fly the Union flag, on a British-government-funded programme (the UK is Esa's third largest contributor).

BBC: UK astronaut Tim Peake to go to International Space Station