US EditionNASA's oldest astronaut felt the decades melt away in space before returning on his 70th birthday
- NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned to Earth on April 19, 2025, aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after a seven-month mission at the ISS, marking his 70th birthday on April 20.
- Pettit's successful mission followed decades of spaceflight by older astronauts, including John Glenn who flew at age 77 in 1998, with Pettit being NASA's oldest active full-time astronaut.
- While orbiting, Pettit experienced near weightlessness that alleviated his usual discomforts and gave him a renewed sense of youth, but readjusting to Earth's gravity was physically difficult after landing in Kazakhstan.
- Pettit expressed that the experience made him feel youthful again, like he was in his 30s, and mentioned that he still has several good years ahead. He also indicated that he is open to embarking on one or two more space missions before retiring from space travel.
- Having spent 220 days in his latest mission and 590 days total in space, Pettit's experiences highlight both the physical challenges of long-duration flight and his intent to continue exploring if opportunities arise.
57 Articles
57 Articles
NASA’s Oldest Astronaut Reports That Something Strange Happened to His Body When He Went to Space
On his 70th birthday, America's oldest full-time astronaut touched down back on Earth after spending 220 days on the International Space Station — and according to him, he didn't feel his age at all up there. As Ars Technica and other outlets report, NASA astronaut Don Pettit was jovial during his first press appearance since coming back down to Earth on April 20 — though admittedly, it'd been a few days since he'd vomited all over the Kazakh st…
What’s It Like To Be 70 in Space? Don Pettit Shares - WhoWhatWhy
What’s It Like To Be 70 in Space? Don Pettit Shares (Maria) The author writes, “Not many people celebrate their birthday by burning a fiery arc through the atmosphere, pulling 4.4Gs in freefall back to planet Earth and thudding into the ground. … No one has ever done it on their 70th birthday. Perhaps this is appropriate because NASA astronaut Don Pettit is a singular individual. His birthday is April 20, and when the Soyuz spacecraft carrying h…
'I didn't look too good because I didn't feel too good': NASA astronaut Don Pettit explains why he seemed so unwell after landing
Seventy-year-old NASA astronaut Don Pettit looked pretty peaked shortly after returning to Earth from the ISS this month. And he was pretty peaked — he'd just thrown up on the Kazakh steppe.
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