As NASA unveils its controversial all–male Artemis III crew, the big question remains: who will be next to step foot on the moon?Although the Artemis IV landing in 2029 will likely be all–American, Brits could be close behind. Now, veteran British astronaut Tim Peake has revealed who he thinks could be the first Brit to step foot on the moon.And he says that Northern Irish astronaut Dr Rosemary Coogan is Britain's best bet.Speaking to the Daily Mail, Major Peake said: 'I think we'd be lucky to have the first European on the moon by 2030 and, if I was betting, I'd say that would probably be Germany, France.'But I'd like to think that we've got a really good chance of seeing a Brit on the moon by the mid–2030s.'It might be new, or it might be somebody like Rose [Rosemary Coogan] who has maybe done a six–month stint on the International Space Station.'If she gets that mission in about 2030, then she will be ready for a 2035 lunar mission.' British astronaut Tim Peake (pictured) has revealed who he thinks will be the first Brit to walk on the moon, and says they could do it by 2035 Dr Coogan graduated from the University of Sussex in 2019 with a doctorate in astronomy before joining the French space agency CNES.In 2022, Dr Coogan was selected as an astronaut candidate by the European Space Agency and became certified in 2024.That makes her part of ESA's qualified astronaut pool, which can be drawn on for spaceflight missions to the ISS.While Dr Coogan is yet to gain any spaceflight experience, by the time the UK has a chance at taking part in a moon mission, she may be better prepared.Major Peake said: 'Rosemary Coogan, our career astronaut with ESA, is due for her slot as a long–duration station crew member.'I'm confident she'll get her long–duration mission before the ISS is retired.'Besides those kinds of missions, I think the landscape at the moment offers plenty of opportunity for people to fly to space on private astronaut missions.'If Dr Coogan can get some spaceflight under her belt by the time NASA is looking for a UK partner, she may be the only experienced British astronaut eligible to fly. Tim Peake is backing Dr Rosemary Coogan (pictured) to be Britain's first moonwalker. Dr Coogan is currently a career astronaut with the European Space Agency Rosemary Coogan: Britain's potential first moonwalker Age: 35Selected as an astronaut candidate: November 2022Attained astronaut certification: April 2024 Academic credentials: Two master's degrees from Durham University and a doctorate in astronomy from the University of SussexMilitary experience: From 2002 to 2009, she served as a Cadet Petty Officer with the Sea Cadets, and later joined the Royal Naval Reserves, rising to the rank of MidshipmanCurrent training: Currently undergoing pre–assignment training at NASA's Johnson Space Center for a potential mission to the International Space Station Major Peake also singled out John McFall, the world's first para–astronaut, who could visit space in early 2027.McFall is an NHS surgeon and Paralympian who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19.Recently, the UK Space Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the private space firm Axiom Space, which aims to develop the first commercial space station.This agreement enables Axiom Space to start planning a mission to send McFall to the Haven–1 space station once it starts operations in 2027.It's unclear whether NASA would consider a para–astronaut for their future moon landings, but that experience could also place McFall as a strong potential candidate.While Peake predicts that a British astronaut will be sent to the moon by the mid–2030s, NASA has been more tight–lipped about potential partnerships.In 2022, then deputy NASA administrator Pamela Melroy said she felt 'very confident we'll have an international partner' and singled out the UK for its role in helping to develop the Lunar Gateway project.The following year, the former science secretary Michelle Donelan claimed NASA had 'said it was incredibly possible' that a Brit would be part of Artemis III.' Peake also suggests that the world's first para–astronaut, John McFall (pictured), could play a bigger role in upcoming space missions. However, it isn't clear whether NASA would consider him for a moon landing NASA's moon base timeline Phase One: 2026 to 2029A major increase in lunar activity, with up to 25 missions, including 21 landingsEarly demonstrations of power, navigation, communications, and nuclear radioisotope heater unit technologies designed to endure the long lunar night.Phase Two: 2029 to 2032Early habitation of human crews Delivery of up to 60 tons of cargo through as many as 24 landingsDeployment of expanded solar power systems and initial nuclear surface power capabilities Phase Three: 2032 onwardsPermanent moon base established with routine crew rotationsDelivery of up to 38 tons of cargo annually to sustain habitats, power systems, logistics operations Ms Donelan added that it was 'only a matter of time until we get a British person on the Moon'.As NASA unveiled its all–American Artemis III crew this week, that promise has evidently come to nothing.However, Major Peake told the Daily Mail that opportunities to fly to the moon are likely to become far more common in the future.'Artemis is all about sustainability. Nobody can afford to do it as it was done back in Apollo,' he said.'That was utterly amazing, but it was eating up five per cent of US GDP. Today's NASA budget is 0.5 per cent of its GDP, and NASA is by far the best–funded space agency in the world.'What we saw with Artemis II is the beginning of this next phase, which is really exciting, but Artemis II is still old technology.'We're still not seeing what's just around the corner, which is the reusability element.'Thanks to reusable rocket boosters like the SpaceX Falcon–9 and Falcon Heavy, the price of putting materials into space has plummeted. A British astronaut should be able to go to the moon in the mid–2030s as NASA establishes its permanent moon base and begins regular crew rotations. Pictured: A NASA render of its planned moon infrastructure