What exactly did Tim Peake do in space?

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Astronaut Tim Peake has spent the last six months in spaceImage source, Twitter / Tim Peake

Tim Peake returns to earth tomorrow after spending the last six months in outer space.

The British astronaut was on a mission called Principia to the International Space Station (ISS).

But what exactly has Major Tim been up to during his time above us?

From down here, it looks like he's been having lots of fun - running marathons, appearing on the Brits and getting an award from the Queen.

But the UK Space Agency says he's also been working on more than 250 experiments including 30 tests on his own body.

In this one he tested if you can get dizzy in space: , external

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"Tim has a packed schedule on board the station - keeping fit, conducting maintenance, finding time to tweet the odd selfie - but ultimately the main reason he is there, and his number one priority, is to carry out new research in science and technology," the space agency says., external

One of the experiments we did see was when Tim explored Mars.

Not the real red planet - but the astronaut used a remote control to move a robot car on a replica Mars, which was actually built in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Many of his other experiments went unreported - so we thought we'd take a spin through what else he's been doing while 256 miles above our heads for 180 days.

15 December - Major Tim Peake launched into space

Elton John tweets from one rocket man to another, external

18 December - His first meal in space was a bacon sandwich

He said it tasted good:, external

This video shows Tim making scrambled eggs, external

And he found his tea:, external

24 December - He said sorry for dialling wrong number from space

He tweeted: "I'd like to apologise to the lady I just called by mistake saying 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' - not a prank call … just a wrong number!", external

25 December - Santa visits outer space too

With one small stocking, external

3 January - The barber visited

Haircuts for everyone:, external

10 January - He featured on CBeebies

As an animated version of himself , external

17 January - Tim is the first British man to walk in space

He tweeted a selfie, external

Tim outside the ISS, external

20 January - The question everyone also wants an answer to. How do you go to the loo in space?

A loo in space, external

And sticking with the hygiene theme...

How to have a "space shower", external

Here's how to avoid a plaque hole in space.

Reminded kids to brush their teeth, external

23 January - Does a spot of vacuuming

Everyone has to do household chores, external

2 February - Plays water ping pong in space

This is pretty cool, external

6 February - Tim got dressed up for the rugby

In an England jersey, external

9 February - A timelapse video of lightning

Look at it go, external

18 February - An experiment working on the space station's -80°C freezer to store blood, urine, saliva & faeces samples for researchers on Earth

Who knew this was a thing?, external

An ultrasound experiment:, external

24 February - A gorilla invades the ISS

The 'gorilla', external

24 February - He gave Adele a BRIT award

Adele's Global Success Award , external

19 March - What it looks like when new astronauts from earth are joining you

Soyuz 46S approaching ISS , external

They brought fresh fruit , external

21 March - Sunrise in space

Look at those colours, external

26 April - Tim runs the full 26 miles of the London marathon

He explained how a special vest kept him weighed down, external

He also called Eddie Izzard, external

8 June - Says he missed rain the most. Really?

Probably because no shower for six months, external

10 June - Tim gets award from the Queen in space

He sent her a message from space in January:, external

Returning to Earth

Tim won't be alone on his return - he'll be joined by two fellow astronauts. American Tim Kopra and Russian Yuri Malenchenko.

They will orbit earth for two hours reaching a heat of 1,648C (3,000F) before the six minute descent.

The capsule that will carry the space men will travel at a speed of 17,000mph slowing down to 3mph before it lands in Kazakhstan.

This video explains the Soyuz undocking, reentry and landing, external

The crew are due to land Saturday 18 May at 10:15am BST. You can watch live on the BBC News channel.

Welcome home Major Tim.

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