Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest active astronaut, has returned home to Houston after a seven-month stint in orbit. The 70-year-old astronaut landed safely back on Earth on April 20, coinciding with his birthday. Pettit was part of a Russian Soyuz capsule that touched down in Kazakhstan, marking the end of his International Space Station (ISS) mission.
Despite appearing unwell during a NASA broadcast as he exited the spacecraft, Pettit is reportedly “doing well” according to agency officials. In fact, he has been open about his struggles with re-entry, stating that it takes him around 24 hours to feel human again after landing. It appears that time has done its job, and Pettit now looks happy and healthy.
With a total of 590 days spent in space across four missions, Pettit is a seasoned astronaut known for his stunning orbital photography. He will likely be welcomed back with open arms by space enthusiasts who have followed his adventures via social media.
Pettit’s return marks the end of a historic mission that saw him and his cosmonaut colleagues Aleksey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner work together to complete their ISS stay. The trio touched down safely on Sunday, with Pettit’s birthday serving as a notable milestone in an already remarkable journey.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/don-pettit-nasas-oldest-active-astronaut-at-70-arrives-in-houston-after-7-month-space-mission-photo