NASA astronaut Don Pettit has opened up about his unwell appearance after landing back on Earth earlier this month. Pettit, who is the oldest active astronaut at NASA, suffered from a stomach bug and looked pale in footage taken shortly after touchdown.
“I didn’t look too good because I didn’t feel too good,” Pettit said during a press conference. He explained that he had to empty his stomach onto the ground due to a bout of space sickness, which is common among astronauts who return to Earth’s gravity after prolonged periods in space.
Pettit’s body tends to respond poorly to the intense gravitational forces, making it challenging for him to readjust after a long space mission. However, he is now feeling fine and is continuing with his post-landing rehab. Pettit expressed his eagerness to explore space again and hopes to get another flight in before retiring.
The astronaut’s comments come after footage of him looking unwell during the landing sparked concerns among onlookers. Pettit reassured that there was no cover-up, but rather a deliberate decision by the crew to provide him with some privacy while he recovered.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/didnt-look-too-good-because-210020076.html