NASA’s Oldest Active Astronaut Don Pettit Returns to Earth on His 70th Birthday After Record-Breaking Space Mission

With this flight, Pettit, a veteran of four space missions, has now accumulated an astounding 590 days in orbit, making him not only NASA’s oldest active astronaut but also the oldest person to have spent such an extended period in space. His experience spans more than two decades, beginning with his first mission aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2002.

The trio launched aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft on September 11, 2024, and docked with the ISS just three hours later, joining Expedition 72. Their return marks the end of that expedition and the official beginning of Expedition 73, now helmed by the combined crew of Soyuz MS-27 and NASA’s Crew-10. The continuous occupancy of the ISS, which began with Expedition 1 in November 2000, continues into its 25th year, maintained through close international cooperation among the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency.

As is customary with Soyuz landings, Russian recovery teams quickly extracted the crew from the capsule and carried them to nearby chairs for initial medical evaluations. Ovchinin and Vagner appeared alert, smiling, and chatting with officials as they were later moved to a medical tent for further checks. Pettit, however, appeared notably weaker. While he managed to lift his helmet visor on his own, he showed less mobility than his crewmates. He was not seen speaking on camera and was quickly transferred to the tent without the usual extended footage shown for returning astronauts.

Russian space journalist Anatoly Zak reported that local commentary described Pettit as being "in a bad shape," with cameramen instructed to avoid showing prolonged visuals of him. For hours after the landing, little was known about his condition.

Later, a NASA spokesperson provided a reassuring update, confirming that Pettit was “doing well and in the range of what is expected for him following return to Earth.” His physical state, while slightly more fragile than his crewmates, is reportedly within normal parameters for a 70-year-old astronaut returning after long-duration spaceflight. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield also shared a photo of Pettit smiling and giving a thumbs-up from the medical tent, easing concerns about his health.

After medical evaluations at the landing site, Pettit will travel to Karaganda and then board a NASA aircraft bound for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where he will undergo further post-mission rehabilitation and debriefings. Reacclimating to Earth’s gravity after months in microgravity is a challenge for all astronauts, but age can intensify the effects, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and cardiovascular strain.

Throughout his career, Pettit has become known for his inventive experiments and vivid space photography. During this mission, he continued sharing images and insights through social media, often highlighting his scientific curiosity and unique perspective on life in orbit. In celebration of his return and birthday, his son posted a thread on X (formerly Twitter), featuring some of Pettit’s favorite images from space — including a stunning capture of the Milky Way.

Pettit is not the oldest human to travel to space — that distinction belongs to Star Trek actor William Shatner, who flew a brief suborbital flight at age 90 — but he holds the record for the oldest person to complete a long-duration mission in orbit. His achievement underscores both his personal resilience and the evolving possibilities for human spaceflight as agencies push the boundaries of age and endurance in preparation for future deep-space missions.

As NASA prepares for longer journeys to the Moon and Mars, Pettit's mission adds valuable data about how aging bodies respond to extended time in microgravity, radiation, and confined environments. The insights gained may shape medical protocols for older astronauts and civilians who may one day travel to space as part of broader exploration or commercial missions.

By Azhar