Landing. Credits: NASA

Landing. Credits: NASA

The deorbit and landing went incredibly smoothly with Tim Peake, Tim Kopra and commander Yuri Malenchenko landing at 09:14 GMT in the steppe of Kazakhstan.

Credits: NASA

Credits: NASA

The large deorbit burn that reduced the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft’s speed by 128 m/s was started at 08:22 GMT over the South Atlantic Ocean. Yuri reported to mission control that everything went as planned as the spacecraft approached the African coast.

As the Soyuz entered Earth’s atmosphere at 100 km altitude its exterior heated up to 1600°C. The parachutes opened at 09:00 GMT with landing occurring at 09:14.

Parachutes open. Credits: NASA

Parachutes open. Credits: NASA

Search and rescue teams were on hand immediately with Yuri Malenchenko out of the capsule first followed by Tim Peake and Tim Kopra.

Tim Peake phones home. Credits: NASA

Tim Peake phones home. Credits: NASA