Germany's Gerst back on earth

Gerst, Maxim Surayev of Russia and the American, Reid Wiseman were met by medical personnel and wrapped in blankets shortly after they exited the Soyuz spacecraft northeast of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan early on Monday.

Speaking in Russian, Gerst told a television reporter that he had felt good during his first trip into space.

"Thanks to everyone for their support," the 38-year-old flight engineer said.

Gerst, the 11th German to travel into space, also became the third to conduct a spacewalk, when he and Wiseman exited the ISS last month to perform maintenance work on its exterior.

He was expected to fly home to Cologne later on Monday.

After he arrives back in Germany, a team of doctors from the European Space Agency is to conduct a series of tests to determine how his body was affected by spending almost six months in space.

On Thursday, Gerst, who tweeted frequently from the ISS, is scheduled to give a press conference to discuss the experience. While still on the ISS, he said apart from seeing his family, the things he was most looking forward to upon his return to earth were going jogging and eating a pizza.

'Spirit of cooperation'

As he exited the plane, Russia's Surayev, who was the ISS commander during their 165 days on board the space station, said at a time of tensions between leading powers over a number of issues, the ISS mission showed it was possible to work together in harmony.

"Everything was in the spirit of cooperation, so I think that everybody needs to learn and follow the example of the ISS crew members," Surayev said. "Let's try to live together side by side. This is the most important thing."

Following their departure, US astronaut Barry Wilmore was named the new commander of the ISS as he and two Russian cosmonauts remained on board the space station, which orbits the earth at a height of 418 kilometers (260 miles).

The US space agency NASA said the three would "continue research and maintenance aboard the station" and be joined by three more astronauts on November 23.

pfd/se (dpa, AFP, Reuters)