NASA’s oldest serving astronaut, Don Pettit, marked his 70th birthday in a way few could imagine—returning to Earth after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Pettit, accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, landed safely in Kazakhstan on April 20, 2025. Their Soyuz MS-26 capsule touched down at 6:20 a.m. local time, parachuting onto the steppe southeast of Dzhezkazgan, just over three hours after undocking from the ISS. Pettit’s milestone birthday was celebrated not with the usual cake and gifts, but with the thrill and challenge of re-entry from orbit.

During this mission, Pettit and his crewmates orbited Earth 3,520 times, covering an astonishing 93.3 million miles. This was Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, adding to his impressive record of more than 590 days spent in space over a 29-year career. While aboard the ISS, he contributed to scientific research, including studies on metal 3D printing, water purification, plant growth under varying water levels, and fire behavior in zero gravity. His work has advanced knowledge in fields crucial for future long-duration space travel.

The landing was closely monitored by recovery teams, who quickly ensured the crew’s safety and health. Images from the site showed Pettit being carried to a medical tent, a standard procedure after long-duration missions to help astronauts readjust to gravity. Despite the physical demands of re-entry, Pettit was reported to be in good spirits and recovering as expected. He described the transition back to Earth as a unique physiological challenge, noting that it typically takes him about 24 hours to feel fully acclimated after returning from space.

Pettit’s return on his 70th birthday sets a new benchmark for active-duty astronauts, though John Glenn remains the oldest person to fly in orbit, having done so at age 77. Pettit’s achievement is a testament to endurance and dedication, inspiring future generations of explorers.