UK astronaut Tim Peake returns to Earth

Tim Peake said the "smells of Earth are just so strong", after exiting the capsule

UK astronaut Tim Peake is back on Earth after a historic six-month stay on the International Space Station.

A Soyuz capsule carrying Major Peake and two other crew members touched down in Kazakhstan at 10:15 BST. During the mission, Tim Peake found time to make the first spacewalk by a UK astronaut, remotely steer a robot on Earth and run the London Marathon.

He is the first person to fly to space under the UK banner since Helen Sharman in 1991. His 186-day mission has taken him on about 3,000 orbits of Earth, covering a distance of about 125 million km.


"The best ride I've been on ever," was how Mjr Peake described the journey back, after exited the capsule.
Asked how he felt, he said: "Truly elated, the smells of Earth are just so strong, just so good to be back on Earth. I'll look forward to seeing the family."

The capsule landed on its side rather than upright, but this is not unusual.

LIVE: Tim Peake returns from space
Living on the International Space Station
Explore the world with Tim's pictures (non-BBC)

"It is going to be quite tricky for me to adapt. It's probably going to take me two or three days before I feel well," Maj Peake said in his last news conference before the return.

"It will take me several months before my body fully recovers in terms of bone density. And it will be interesting to see any lasting changes to eyesight etc."
"But generally speaking in two or three days I should be fairly comfortable back on Earth."