NASA astronaut Don Pettit returns to Earth on his 70th birthday after a 220-day ISS mission, contributing vital research in 3D printing, water tech, and fire in space.
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| NASA astronaut Don Pettit completes a 220-day ISS expedition on his 70th birthday, landing with two cosmonauts after groundbreaking science and 93 million miles. Image: NASA |
WASHINGTON, USA — April 20, 2025:
NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned safely to Earth on Saturday, April 19, alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, after completing a seven-month scientific expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The trio’s return via Soyuz MS-26 concluded with a parachute-assisted landing at 9:20 p.m. EDT (6:20 a.m. April 20 local time) in the steppe southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan—just in time for Pettit to celebrate his 70th birthday on the day of landing.
Launched on September 11, 2024, the team spent 220 days in orbit, making 3,520 revolutions around Earth and traveling over 93.3 million miles.
During the mission, Pettit served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 71 and 72, conducting high-impact experiments in microgravity metal 3D printing, water purification technologies, plant growth under variable hydration, and fire behavior in space. These experiments support NASA’s long-term goals for deep space exploration and sustainable life-support systems beyond Earth.
In addition to mission-critical work, Pettit—renowned for his creativity—captured and shared striking images of Earth and performed innovative demonstrations that engaged the public in the wonders of space science.
This mission marked Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, bringing his total time in space to 590 days. Ovchinin also completed his fourth mission (595 days total), while Vagner closed his second with a career total of 416 days in orbit.
Following standard post-landing procedures, the crew was transported to the recovery staging area in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, for medical checks. Pettit will then return to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston aboard a NASA aircraft. Officials confirm that Pettit is in excellent health and recovering normally.
The ISS continues to be a global platform for scientific advancement, enabling breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As NASA partners with private industry to expand a commercial economy in low Earth orbit, it also shifts focus to deep space through the Artemis program, paving the way for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
Don Pettit’s return underscores not only the scientific achievements of the mission but also the enduring human spirit of exploration—a celebration made even more meaningful by his milestone birthday spent among the stars.