Tweeting astronaut returns

1:26 am, Wed 15 May 2013

Astronaut back home: 'Fresh air has never been so sweet'

Former International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield has returned to North America after landing in Kazakhstan yesterday.

Back in North America! Walking around the Bangor, Maine airport, getting my Earth legs back. Fresh, clean air has never been so sweet.

From @Cmdr_Hadfield on Twitter: (12:15 am, Wed 15 May 2013)

Forgot to mention: first long, hot shower since December. That felt so good! Step 1 of Return to Earth complete.

From @Cmdr_Hadfield on Twitter: ( 5:06 pm, Tue 14 May 2013)

8:30 am, Tue 14 May 2013

Hadfield 're-adapting to the pull of gravity' on Earth

Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield has tweeted his reaction after arriving back on Earth after his stay in the International Space Station (ISS).

Safely home - back on Earth, happily readapting to the heavy pull of gravity. Wonderful to smell and feel Spring.

From @Cmdr_Hadfield on Twitter: ( 7:24 am, Tue 14 May 2013)

See more: Pictures of Commander Hadfield landing in Kazakhstan.

Astronauts 'feeling well' after Earth landing

The first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station landed safely in Kazakhstan with two crewmates early this morning, wrapping up a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Chris Hadfield, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko. Credit: Reuters

A Soyuz capsule under an orange parachute raised clouds of dust as it ignited an engine to cushion its landing some 150 km (90 miles) southeast of the town of Zhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan at 8:31am (03.31am UK time).

The Soyuz space capsule lands some 150 km (93 miles) southeast of the town of Zhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan. Credit: Reuters

"The crew are feeling well," Mission Control outside Moscow said in a radio transmission, as several search and rescue helicopters hovered around the capsule on a bright morning.

The three astronauts were shown smiling, seated in semi-reclined chairs and covered with blue thermal blankets, waiting for medical tests after their landing.

4:13 am, Tue 14 May 2013

Hadfield back on Earth with a grin

Commander Hadfield appeared to be in good health and good spirits as he took in his first moments back on Earth.

Crew helped to disconnect Hadfield from his space suit. Credit: NASA

Hadfield gave a thumbs up to gathered media. Credit: NASA

3:48 am, Tue 14 May 2013

Astronauts land safely in Kazakhstan

The Soyuz space capsule carrying a three-man international crew has landed safely in Kazakhstan.

Canada's Chris Hadfield, along with NASA's Tom Marshburn and Russia's Roman Romanenko, touched down just after 3.30am UK time.

Hadfield has spent the last five months on the International Space Station, clocking up a total of nearly 62 million miles.

3:34 am, Tue 14 May 2013

Commander Hadfield returns to Earth

The Soyuz capsule carrying International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield has returned to Earth in Kazakhstan.

TOUCHDOWN!!! @cmdr_hadfield, Roman @astromarshburn, welcome home! #returntoEarth #APPLAUSE!!!

From @csa_asc on Twitter: ( 2:31 am, Tue 14 May 2013)

144 days on the #ISS, 146 days in space, 2,336 orbits around the planet and clocked almost 62 million miles. What a ride!

From @csa_asc on Twitter: ( 2:39 am, Tue 14 May 2013)

#Soyuz capsule lands safely at 10:31 pm EDT on the steppe of Kazakhstan. All 3 crew members are safe and adjusting to gravity.

From @NASA on Twitter: ( 2:34 am, Tue 14 May 2013)

Astronaut Chris Hadfield welcomes 'a new dawn'

In what will be one of the last images he tweets from the International Space Station, Commander Hadfield published this photograph of the sun emerging from behind the Earth.

He included the caption: "Spaceflight finale: To some this may look like a sunset. But it's a new dawn."