NASA’s Oldest Active Astronaut, Don Pettit, Prepares for Earth Return After Six-Month ISS Mission

NASA's oldest active astronaut, Don Pettit, is set to return to Earth this week from the International Space Station (ISS) after a remarkable six-month mission. At the age of 69, Pettit will mark his 70th birthday shortly after landing, highlighting a rare blend of longevity in space exploration and personal milestone. Alongside Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, Pettit will undock from the ISS aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft at 5:57 p.m. EDT before making a parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan at approximately 9:20 p.m. EDT on April 19, 2025. During their mission, the crew completed an unprecedented 3,520 orbits around the Earth and traveled over 93.3 million miles. For Pettit, this marks his fourth journey to space, accumulating a grand total of 590 days spent in orbit—a testament to his extensive career in astronautics. Both Ovchinin and Vagner have impressive records as well, with Ovchinin also completing his fourth flight, totaling 595 days, and Vagner reaching 416 days in his second mission. With Pettit's departure, the ISS crew count will decrease from ten to seven as new astronauts continue to arrive. Recently, NASA welcomed Jonny Kim and two Roscosmos cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz MS-27. Also noteworthy, Pettit's mission featured significant research and public engagement, as he actively shared stunning visuals of Earth, including auroras and unique atmospheric phenomena, through social media platforms. The upcoming landing marks not just the conclusion of a successful mission but also underscores the ongoing evolution of human spaceflight as NASA shifts focus toward more expansive deep-space missions, such as Artemis, targeting future endeavors to the Moon and Mars. As commercial entities like SpaceX facilitate crew transport for the ISS, NASA is enhancing its capabilities for deeper exploration. Pettit’s journey exemplifies the dedication and achievement that characterize NASA’s astronaut corps and the importance of the ISS in scientific inquiry. Overall, this event resonates not only within the realm of space exploration but also highlights the unity between international space agencies, fostering collaborations that transcend geopolitical boundaries. This article and analysis have been reviewed and evaluated using artificial intelligence to ensure accuracy and clarity.