Tim Peake lands back on Earth in dramatic style after 186-day mission

British astronaut Tim Peake has said he feels “truly elated” after landing back on Earth in dramatic style from his 186-day International Space Station mission.

His Soyuz space capsule parachuted down to a remote spot in the vast scrubland steppe of Kazakhstan, landing at 10.15am UK time after a hair-raising journey at 22 times the speed of sound.

Travelling with Major Peake were crewmates American Nasa astronaut Colonel Tim Kopra and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko.

Just one second before touchdown six retro-rockets beneath the space capsule ignited to slow their impact speed to 3mph.

After landing, the space travellers were pulled one-by-one from the Soyuz and placed in comfortable seats.

Major Peake had his eyes closed and looked exhausted at first, but then smiled and gave a thumbs up to waiting reporters.

Asked how he felt, he said: "Great, thanks. It was incredible - the best ride I've been on ever.

"I'm just truly elated. The smells of the Earth are so strong. It's just wonderful to feel the fresh air.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the family now."

He added that spending 186 days on the International Space Station was a "life changing experience" and that he was now contemplating treating himself to a "pizza and cold beer".

A rescue and recovery team raced to the landing site almost 300 miles south west of the major city of Karaganda.

In the last few minutes of the descent the Soyuz was filmed floating through banks of white cloud beneath its huge main parachute canopy, which covers 10,764 square feet.

Once landed, technicians surrounded the capsule to prepare to open the hatch and extract Major Peake and his two crew mates.