Tim Peake thinks that extraterrestrial life will be discovered in the next five years.
Tim Peake is convinced that aliens exist
The British astronaut is convinced that the universe is "teeming" with other life and has predicted the finding of an extraterrestrial bacterial lifeform within the next decade.
Peake told the Travel Diaries podcast that he "absolutely" believes that alien life exists somewhere but fears that the vastness of the universe could mean it is impossible for humanity to make contact.
The spaceman - who spent six months in orbit between 2015 and 2016 - said: "I think life is everywhere.
"I think we will probably find signs of small, microbial life forms within the next five, 10, 15 years.
"We're already seeing potential bio-signatures in the atmospheres in our local vicinity which will be really exciting.
"Intelligent life, yes - I think intelligent life is out there.
"The problem is the vastness of the universe, just the scales we're talking about, will we ever make contact?"