Badsha Mondal

NASA’s Oldest Astronaut Don Pettit Set to Return to Earth After Historic Mission  . AI-Generated.

After a historic six-month stint aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Don Pettit, 69, is getting ready to return to Earth. He is the agency's oldest current astronaut. Over the course of his illustrious career, veteran spacefarer Pettit—who is renowned for his scientific inventiveness and captivating pedagogical outreach—has accumulated 370 days in space. His most recent expedition, which began in late 2024, is evidence of his unwavering enthusiasm for space travel and study. The scientific community and space enthusiasts around the world consider Pettit's contributions to microgravity research, his well-known "Saturday Morning Science" experiments, and his unwavering commitment to advancing human spaceflight—even as he approaches his 70s—as he and his crew prepare for their return trip to Earth.