Cmdr Hadfield touches down in Scotland to refuel

Cmdr Chris Hadfield speaks on the phone shortly after the Soyuz space capsule landed in Kazakhstan. Picture: AP

COMMANDER Chris Hadfield, who today returned to Earth after a 144-day stint on board the International Space Station, landed in Prestwick this afternoon to refuel.

The astronaut - the first Canadian to walk in space - landed in Kazakhstan early on Tuesday in the Soyuz space capsule, along with fellow astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Roman Romanenko, from the United States and Russia respectively.

Cmdr Hadfield gained a large following on Twitter after posting pictures of the world from space, including several of Scotland.

The 53-year-old, who also has the distinction of being the first Canadian to live aboard the space stataion and pilot a spacecraft, ended his command of the space station on Sunday, posting a video cover of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’.

Cmdr Hadfield's picture showing Prestwick. Picture: Complimentary

Cmdr Hadfield tweeted: “On the ground in Prestwick, Scotland, to refuel. Blue sky day, Nature smiling on us. Was 1st here in 1977 - who could have predicted this?”

The message was retweeted over 700 times by other users of the social media site.

First Minister Alex Salmond tweeted the astronaut shortly after, saying: “Scotland welcomes you back to earth @Cmdr_Hadfield Glad you’re getting a closer look after the wonderful pics from space!”

Many Twitter users also recalled Elvis landing at the Ayrshire airport in 1960 - believed by many to be the only time the musician ever set foot in the UK.