During the last six months the 44-year-old former helicopter test pilot has taken part in more than 250 experiments, performed a spacewalk, run the London Marathon on a treadmill, and inspired more than a million schoolchildren. In a few hours he will be back on Earth preparing to be reunited with his family. Major Peake’s space capsule is due to parachute down to a remote spot on the vast Kazakhastan steppe at around 10.15am UK time.