In an incredible twist of fate, Don Pettit, America’s oldest active astronaut, touched down on Earth on his 70th birthday, concluding his extraordinary journey in space. The Soyuz MS-26 space capsule, which also carried Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, successfully landed in Kazakhstan's serene steppe at 06:20 local time (01:20 GMT) on Sunday morning.
Pettit’s remarkable stint included a substantial 220 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), during which they orbited Earth approximately 3,520 times, as reported by NASA. With a cumulative total of 590 days spent in space across four different missions, Pettit stands tall among pioneers of space travel. However, he is not the record-holder for the oldest astronaut in orbit—that title belongs to John Glenn, who ventured into space at 77 years of age in 1998.
After their landmark return, the trio will undergo a period of readjustment to Earth's gravity. Pettit, who hails from Oregon and was born on April 20, 1955, is set to be transported to Houston, Texas, while Ovchinin and Vagner will head to Russia’s Zvyozdniy Gorodok (Star City) near Moscow for further processing.
During their final hours on the ISS, Pettit and his colleagues ceremonially handed the command of the spaceship over to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, reflecting the spirit of international cooperation in space exploration.
Earlier last month, two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, also returned to Earth after spending a staggering nine months aboard the ISS, stemming from technical issues that postponed their departure from the original eight-day mission.
This event underscores not just an individual’s milestone but also the collaborative efforts of nations in the name of science and exploration, paving the way for future generations to dream beyond our planet.
Pettit’s remarkable stint included a substantial 220 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), during which they orbited Earth approximately 3,520 times, as reported by NASA. With a cumulative total of 590 days spent in space across four different missions, Pettit stands tall among pioneers of space travel. However, he is not the record-holder for the oldest astronaut in orbit—that title belongs to John Glenn, who ventured into space at 77 years of age in 1998.
After their landmark return, the trio will undergo a period of readjustment to Earth's gravity. Pettit, who hails from Oregon and was born on April 20, 1955, is set to be transported to Houston, Texas, while Ovchinin and Vagner will head to Russia’s Zvyozdniy Gorodok (Star City) near Moscow for further processing.
During their final hours on the ISS, Pettit and his colleagues ceremonially handed the command of the spaceship over to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, reflecting the spirit of international cooperation in space exploration.
Earlier last month, two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, also returned to Earth after spending a staggering nine months aboard the ISS, stemming from technical issues that postponed their departure from the original eight-day mission.
This event underscores not just an individual’s milestone but also the collaborative efforts of nations in the name of science and exploration, paving the way for future generations to dream beyond our planet.
