NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Returns to Earth on 70th Birthday

US astronaut Dan Pettit returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after spending 220 days on the International Space Station. He landed in Kazakhstan with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Pettit has now spent a total of 590 days in space during his four missions, although he is not the oldest person to fly in orbit, a record held by John Glenn who flew at 77.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit and cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner returned to Earth on Saturday after a 220-day stay on the International Space Station, landing in Kazakhstan on Pettit's 70th birthday. Pettit, the oldest active-duty NASA astronaut, and his crewmates undocked from the ISS and splashed down safely, with recovery crews providing immediate medical checks. Pettit appeared disoriented upon landing, but there were no major medical concerns. The crew's return marked the end of a long-duration mission, with Pettit and Ovchinin accumulating nearly 600 days in space over multiple flights. The ISS continues to face challenges, including air leaks, budget shortfalls, and resupply delays, with NASA working to address these issues before the station's planned retirement in 2030.

A NASA astronaut, Donald Pettit, and two Russian cosmonauts, Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Wagner, returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after a seven-month science mission, landing in Kazakhstan on Sunday, 20 April 2025, having orbited the Earth 3,520 times over 220 days in space.