In April 2024, astronaut Don Pettit returned to Earth after spending almost seven months aboard the International Space Station. The landing happened on April 20 in Kazakhstan, which was also the date of his 70th birthday. Pettit used a Russian Soyuz capsule to return. According to NASA, he is the oldest full-time astronaut to complete such a long mission. The purpose of the mission was scientific research and observation of space. Pettit shared his experiences from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He explained that living in microgravity helped remove the regular pain he usually feels. It was also reported that the astronaut vomited after landing because his body had to adjust to gravity again. Returning to Earth has always been difficult for his body, but floating in space made him feel like he was 30 years old again.

While in space, Pettit focused on astrophotography and small science experiments. He captured images of celestial bodies like auroras and comets and also observed satellites. During his free time, he did demonstrations with bubbles, honey, and peanut butter to show how objects behave in space. These activities helped the public understand physics in microgravity. Pettit said the space environment allows the body to rest and heal. He added that he still has energy for more flights and is not yet ready to retire. Experts describe his work as inspirational, and his mission showed the resilience of the human body in space. Pettit’s career remains remarkable for both science and space travel.