Shuttleworth and his fellow crew members, Russian Yuri Gidzenko and Italian Roberto Vittori, formally wrapped up their mission during a traditional ceremony in Russia's Star City outside of Moscow.

They began the ceremony by laying flowers near the statue of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and then accepted the traditional Russian gift of bread and salt.

Pyotr Klimuk, director of the Cosmonaut's Training Center, presented all three men with diamond-studded gold badges for their achievements in space exploration. They were also bestowed membership in the International Knighthood of St. Svyatoslav for their contribution to the progress of civilization.

Shuttleworth, who said he had dreamt of flying into space as a child, was determined to be seen as more than just a tourist. He paid for and conducted a series of experiments while at the space station.

''I've learned a tremendous amount from this experience and I think when the time is right and I'm ready to learn more than I'll be back,'' Shuttleworth said.

He had spent eight months training in Russia's elite center with the other cosmonauts, took Russian lessons and attended one week of classes at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston before his flight.

Shuttleworth had initially expressed interest in taking home as a souvenir the three-ton Soyuz capsule, which protected the crew during their fiery descent to Earth, but Russian officials said a sale would be impossible.

He will, however, take home the custom-made bulky spacesuit that protected him, Russian space officials said.