The capsule carrying the world's first paying space tourist landed in the Kazak steppe in the early hours of this morning.
Russian Mission Control has announced that Mr Dennis Tito's multi-million dollar cosmos adventure has come to an end.
Just over three hours earlier, the Russian Soyuz capsule undocked from the International Space Station and embarked on its lightning return to Earth.
Before their flight, Mr Tito and his two cosmonaut colleagues, Mr Talgat Musabayev and Mr Yuri Baturin, gathered with the three astronauts staying on at the station for a final video link-up with Mission Control in Korolyov, outside Moscow.
Mr Tito said: "Personally, I've had the time of my life. I've achieved my dream and nothing could have been better. I thank everybody that supported my mission."
Mr Musabayev and American astronaut Mr Jim Voss hugged but Mr Voss gave Mr Tito a more formal farewell, shaking his hand.
Mr Tito and the cosmonauts then floated headfirst into the Soyuz, their stockinged feet disappearing from view before the hatch connecting the capsule with the station was closed.
Inside the capsule, they switched on the power supply - the capsule had been drawing power from the space station - and powered up the capsule's navigation computer.
They donned bulky spacesuits for the flight back to Earth and ensured the Soyuz was airtight before it undocked from the station 3.21 a.m. Irish time.
PA