[Watch] Astronaut Scott Kelly terrified space crew by disguising himself as a gorilla

After nearly a year on board the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth on Wednesday. He touched down in Kazakhstan after having completed 340 days in space.

#Thanks for following our #YearInSpace The journey isn't over. Follow me as I rediscover #Earth! See you down below! pic.twitter.com/7byNy6fMG4

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 1, 2016

As a part of NASA's special mission to prepare astronauts for longer flights to Mars and beyond, Kelly constantly posted a year's worth of stunning updates and pictures on Instragram, Twitter and Facebook.

#Countdown We're down to a wakeup. #Earth. I'm coming for you tomorrow! #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/kLe2755XyG

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 1, 2016

#Countdown #Throwback Milky Way #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/Tl5ceU34HY

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 29, 2016

Likely my last pic of the #moon from space. Reminded me of my friend, #GeneCernan the @lastmanonmoon! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/4YCHj6s5E9

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 28, 2016

That #polarvortex even looks cold from here! #Burr! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/LijIVyLOwW

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 14, 2016

#fuji san, your majesty casts a wide shadow! #Japan YearInSpace! pic.twitter.com/kK4bwH6tRj

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 9, 2016

Day 309. #Aurora nights. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l9INO5T3hm

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 30, 2016

Sandy and green on the South #Indian coast. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/6jie3PB23i

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 3, 2016

To lighten up the mood during the often long, arduous hours, Kelly played a few pranks on his colleagues also. In this video he posted on Twitter, the astronaut emerged from a box dressed as an ape. He is seen chasing his obviously terrified crewmate in a monkey suit.

Needed a little humor to lighten up a #YearInSpace. Go big, or go home. I think I'll do both. #SpaceApehttps://t.co/Ift8VdDR4C

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 23, 2016