NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, the oldest American to serve in space, has returned safely to Earth on his 70th birthday.
He landed in Kazakhstan on Sunday with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Their Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft completed a smooth descent after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission began on 11 September 2024 and lasted 220 days. During this time, the crew orbited Earth 3,520 times while carrying out scientific research.
According to NASA, Mr Pettit focused on several important experiments during his time in orbit. These included testing metal 3D printing in space, improving water purification systems, and studying how plants grow in different water conditions. He also looked at how fire behaves in a low-gravity environment.
This mission was Mr Pettit’s fourth trip to space. It was also the fourth for Mr Ovchinin, while Mr Vagner completed his second spaceflight.
Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, confirmed that the landing went as planned, saying, “Its deorbiting and descent to Earth were normal.”
Donald Pettit’s return marks not only another milestone in his long career, but also a rare celebration — spending a 70th birthday re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
His work continues to help scientists better understand how humans can live and work in space for long periods.
The success of the mission also highlights ongoing cooperation between the United States and Russia in space exploration, despite global tensions.
Photo by NASA/Bill Ingalls. Shows NASA astronaut Don Pettit is carried to a medical tent shortly after he and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner landed in their Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on April 19, 2025 (April 20, 2025, Kazakhstan time).
