Member of the International Space Station (ISS) crew Britain's Tim Peake gestures shortly after landing near the town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Saturday, June 18, 2016. Picture: AP.

The Soyuz TMA-19M capsule carrying NASA’s Tim Kopra, Tim Peake of the European Space Agency and the Russian agency Roscosmos’ Yuri Malenchenko touched down about 145 kilometres southeast of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.

All descent manoeuvres were performed without any hitches and the crew reported feeling fine as their ship slid off the orbit and headed down to Earth. Helicopters carrying recovery teams were circling the area as the capsule was descending slowly under a massive orange-and-white parachute.

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 47 crew members Tim Kopra of NASA, Tim Peake of the European Space Agency, and Yuri Malenchenko of Roscosmos. Picture: Getty.Source:Getty Images

Support crew helped the trio get out of the capsule, charred by a fiery descent through the atmosphere, and placed them in reclining chairs for a quick check-up.

Asked how he felt after landing, Peake said: “Great, thanks. It was incredible — the best ride I’ve been on ever.

“I’m just truly elated. The smells of Earth are just so strong, it’s just wonderful to feel the fresh air.

“I’m look forward to seeing the family now.”

He added that spending 186 days on the International Space Station was a “life changing experience”.

Now he is contemplating treating himself to a “pizza and cold beer”.

He added: “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.”

UK astronaut Tim Peake makes emotional call on return to Earth and admits he can’t wait for pizza and beer. Picture: AP.Source:AP

Peake, a 44-year-old former army helicopter pilot, has become a hero at home, helping rekindle an interest in space exploration.

He was not the first Briton in space. Helen Sharman visited Russia’s Mir space station in 1991 on a privately backed mission and several British-born American citizens flew with NASA’s space shuttle program.

But Peake is Britain’s first publicly funded British astronaut and the first Briton to visit the International Space Station. He performed the first British space walk and was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in her annual Birthday Honors List.

He excited many at home by joining the 42-kilometre London Marathon — from 400 kilometres above the Earth, harnessed to a treadmill aboard the ISS with a simulation of the route through London’s streets playing on an iPad.

Crew members Tim Peake of Britain, Yuri Malenchenko of Russia and Tim Kopra of the US rest in chairs shortly after landing near the town of Kazakhstan. Picture: AFP.Source:AFP

Peake finished the race in 3 hours and 35 minutes, a record for the fastest marathon in orbit, according to Guinness World Records.

The trio spent 186 days in space since their launch in December 2015. They have conducted hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science.

“I’m going to miss the view definitely,” Peake said after landing.

NASA said the data received would help in the potential development of vaccines and could be relevant in the treatment of patients suffering from ocular diseases, such as glaucoma.

For Malenchenko, it was a sixth mission, and he logged up a total of 828 days in space, the second-longest accumulated time in space after Russian Gennady Padalka. Kopra has logged up 244 days in space on two flights.

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams along with Russians Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will operate the station for three weeks until the arrival of three new crew members.