Astronaut Tim Peake Returns Home After 6 Months in Space: 'Wonderful to be Back in the Fresh Air'

Peake Shares His Feelings Upon Returning Home to Earth

By Jonalyn Cueto, CP Contributor Sunday, June 19, 2016

Tim Peake, the first official British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, has safely touched down in Kazakhstan soil on June 18 at 5:15 a.m.

In December of last year, Peake, commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA's Tim Kopra went to space for the six-month principia mission on the International Space Station (ISS). This made Peake the first British astronaut to go to the ISS and the eighth ESA astronaut to complete a long-duration mission in space.

"The smells of Earth are just so strong," Peake said upon emerging from the Soyuz capsule which carried them back home. "It's just wonderful to be back in the fresh air."

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A 'Life-Changing Experience'

The three were attended to by medical staff. Unsteady on his feet and looking tired, Peake still managed to smile, wave and speak with waiting reporters. He described his six-month trip as a "life-changing experience" and the wild ride back home as the "best ride" he's ever been on.

"I'm going to miss the view, definitely. I'd love some cool rain right now, it was very hot in the capsule and the suit's very hot … I might be having some pizza later, maybe a cold beer as well," he said. After being extracted from the capsule, the British Army Air Corps officer made a phone call to his family.

Major Peake's father, Nigel, and his mother, Angela, were at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, looking proud and relieved as they watched the safe landing of their son.

"It's a job well done, I'm so proud of him and what he's achieved. I'm very grateful he's had the opportunity and everyone has done a magnificent job." Nigel Peake said.

Still a bit Overwhelmed

The astronauts were due to attend a welcoming ceremony with a post-flight press conference but only Malachenko was present. Exhausted, Peake and Kopra have gone straight aboard their planes bound for home. Camera crews were asked not to film them as they "may be feeling a little overwhelmed." In the early hours of 19 June, the plane carrying Peake has touched down in Norway.

On 21 June, Tuesday, Peake, at the invitation of media, will be holding a post-flight press conference at the EAC to entail his experience in his six-month stay at the ISS.

Major Peake will undergo a 21-day physical reconditioning to help him re-adapt to the Earth's gravity as he had spent 186 days in space experiencing weightlessness.