NASA's 70-Year-Old Spaceman Defies Age, Health Concerns After Record-Breaking 220-Day Odyssey

Ever wonder what it’s like to celebrate your 70th in zero gravity? Well, Don Pettit just did, and let’s say it’s one heck of a way to kickstart your seventh decade! NASA’s oldest serving astronaut has just landed back on terra firma in Kazakhstan, after a seven-month mission that most would say is a truly out-of-this-world way to mark such a milestone.

Here’s the kicker: Is space travel the new age-defying trick? Instead of the typical quiet dinner or a cruise, Pettit’s celebration included re-experiencing gravity after circling Earth 3,520 times. And no, it wasn’t just about enjoying the view; he and his crewmates conducted some pretty cool (and important) research on water sanitation technology, plant growth and even fire behavior in space.

But space travel isn’t all glittery stars and floating teacups. There’s a physical toll, of course. Concern over Pettit’s health spread across social media as fans noticed he looked a tad less than perky when he touched down, causing a stir of worry among space enthusiasts. However, NASA assures us he’s doing just fine, which is a relief because the last thing we need is our senior citizens getting zapped up by the cosmos.

I mean, come on, 93.3 million miles traveled around Earth, and now he gets to, what, catch a flight back to Houston to feel human again? You’ve got to admire the grit. Or is it the perfect birthday present for someone who’s seen it all and now can claim a gravity-defying entrance to his next chapter? Either way, it’s a birthday celebration to, quite literally, moon over.

Guess this is what happens when your birthday candle wishes for the past 70 years turn into a real adventure. So, the next time your significant other asks you what you want for your birthday, just ask for a space mission – because if Don Pettit can do it, who’s to say you can’t, right? Just remember to pack some strong space-sickness bags and perhaps a stash of pizza for when you’re back on Earth. LEARN MOREoplasomo/lger-astronaut-don-70th-birthday-his-return-from-space-mission-969579-2-20250318).

A senior citizen has returned from his seven-month mission in space, marking his 70th birthday in the best style.

Don Pettit is NASA’s oldest serving astronaut, and touched back down on Earth to mark the beginning of his seventh decade alive, alongside two Russian cosmonauts in a remote area in Kazakhstan.

Talk about great birthday gifts; returning to your home planet to experience gravity once again after 220 days in space has got to be up there.

His time up there rivals that of Wilmore and Williams, who were stranded aboard the International Space Station for nine months, after their spacecraft faced technical difficulties and was sent back, unmanned, extending their week-long mission indefinitely.

However, while their health was of concern to some professionals, many are concerned with Pettit’s state, appearing pale when being carried to a medical tent from the spacecraft.

NASA took to X after the spacecraft touched down, writing: “Home sweet Houston. @NASA_Astronauts Don Pettit has officially returned home from the @Space_Station after completing his fourth spaceflight, totalling 590 days in space. A picture perfect mission.”

Alongside his crewmates, the American space explorer orbited the Earth 3,520 times, totalling 93.3 million miles in the process.

Upon his momentous return, attention turned to his wellbeing, appearing frail and weak compared to when he left Earth.

Experts took to social media, as astronomer Jonathan McDowel claimed that he looked ‘less than fully well’, adding that it’s ‘hopefully nothing serious’, hoping for an update on his condition.

While on the ISS, NASA revealed that the astronauts and cosmonauts carried out research into water sanitisation technology, plant growth in certain conditions and fire behaviour in microgravity.

The 70-year-old touched back down on Earth, but sparked health concerns (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

It took just three hours for the spacecraft to reach the surface after undocking, with images showing the capsule parachuting down to Earth, with the explorers happily giving the thumbs up to those waiting.

The Oregon-born Pettit has spent over 18 months in orbit altogether, completing his fourth spaceflight, making him one of the oldest to have ever flown in orbit.

John Glenn, who passed away in 2016, still holds this record, as he flew on a NASA mission aged 77 back in 1998.

Despite the concern from experts and social media users, NASA reiterated that the 70-year-old is healthy and doing well, explaining on X: “According to NASA officials at the landing site, is doing well and in the range of what is expected for him following return to Earth.”

The spacecraft landed to a scenic backdrop (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

Space fans shouldn’t be too worried though, as the space agency added: “What’s expected for him? In his own words during an April 16 pre-departure interview, ‘This is a physiological thing. It affects different people different ways. Some people can go out and eat pizza and dance.

“‘When I land, it takes me about 24 hours to feel like I’m a human being again.'”

He was set to fly to the Kazakh city of Karaganda after landing, before getting onboard a NASA plane to their Johnson Space Center in Texas.