70-Year-Old Astronaut Don Pettit Thrives Post-Landing: NASA Reports He’s Doing Well Despite His Frail Appearance

NASA’s longest-serving astronaut, Don Pettit, just made a remarkable return to Earth after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His landing came precisely on his 70th birthday, which was a milestone in itself. However, some viewers raised concerns about his health after seeing him on the live feed following the touchdown in Kazakhstan.

Pettit, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, left the ISS at 5:57 p.m. ET, touching down about three and a half hours later at 9:20 p.m. ET. They landed safely near Dzhezkazgan, and Pettit was taken to a medical tent for routine checks. Although his appearance sparked worry online, NASA quickly reassured everyone that he was doing well.

NASA officials stated that Pettit was recovering as expected, highlighting the variability in how astronauts feel after returning from space. In a pre-launch interview, Pettit humorously noted that adjusting back to Earth can take time, saying, “When I land, it takes me about 24 hours to feel like I’m a human being again.”

This is Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, totaling 590 days in orbit. His first mission was aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2002, which turned into an extended stay after the tragic Columbia disaster.

Interestingly, although Pettit is the oldest astronaut to complete a long-duration mission, the record for the oldest person in space belongs to John Glenn, who flew at 77 in 1998. Peggy Whitson, too, made headlines as the oldest woman to orbit Earth at 63 during her Axiom Mission-2 in 2023.

The effects of space travel on the human body remain a significant area of research. A study by NASA revealed that spaceflight might accelerate aging by impacting our genomic stability. Even though Pettit is not the oldest astronaut overall, his extensive experience and dedication to space exploration are impressive.

Space exploration continues to captivate and inspire, not just astronauts but also the public. Social media reactions to Pettit’s return showed an outpouring of support and celebration, with many fans wishing him a happy birthday and sharing their excitement.

For more updates on NASA’s latest missions and space research, you can check NASA’s official website. The study of how space affects our bodies is ongoing, providing valuable insights that could one day help us understand aging and health better, both in space and on Earth.

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astronaut health,international space station,NASA