Close Menu

    Get the latest news around the globe

    Editor's Pick

    Meet the new UK PM Rishi Sunak’s revamped Cabinet

    Experts call for redefining Obesity to improve Diagnosis and Care

    Fingerprints are not as unique as we previously thought; Study

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Instagram
    Britain HeraldBritain Herald
    Subscribe
    • Home
    • World Roundup
    • Business
    • Tech World
    • Entertainment & Events
    • Curious
    • More…
      • Spotlight
      • Knowledge
      • Lifestyle
      • Awareness
      • Women World
      • Sports
      • Travel
      • Notable
      • Contact Us
    Britain HeraldBritain Herald
    Home » Oldest active astronaut Don Pettit returns to Earth on 70th Birthday
    Science

    Oldest active astronaut Don Pettit returns to Earth on 70th Birthday

    Before departing the ISS, the crew handed over station command to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi.
    News DeskBy News DeskApril 20, 2025
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
    Oldest active astronaut Dan Pettit returns to Earth _Image Via_NASA
    Image Credits: NASA | Cropped by BH

    Kazakhstan: American astronaut Donald Roy Pettit (Don Pettit), NASA’s oldest active astronaut, has returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after completing a 220-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

    Pettit arrived alongside Russian crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft, which made a parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan’s steppe at 06:20 local time (01:20 GMT) on Sunday, 20th of April.

    According to NASA, the trio orbited the Earth 3,520 times during the mission. This marks Pettit’s fourth spaceflight and brings his total time spent in space to 590 days.

    While Pettit is now the oldest American to serve in space, the record for the oldest person to orbit the Earth remains with John Glenn, who flew at age 77 in 1998. Glenn passed away in 2016.

    Happy birthday, @astro_Pettit! Many happy returns (including this one) 🥳

    The MS-26 Soyuz spacecraft touched down in Kazakhstan at 9:20pm ET—or, in local time, 6:20am April 20, Pettit's 70th birthday. pic.twitter.com/qFM5fAxnA0

    — NASA (@NASA) April 20, 2025

    Following their landing, the astronauts will begin a period of physical readjustment to Earth’s gravity. Pettit, who was born in Oregon on April 20, 1955, will be flown to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

    Meanwhile, Ovchinin and Vagner will return to Russia’s main space training facility in Zvyozdniy Gorodok (Star City) near Moscow.

    Before departing the ISS, the crew handed over station command to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi.

    This return also comes just one month after fellow NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams concluded an unexpectedly extended mission aboard the ISS.

    Originally scheduled for just eight days, their mission lasted over nine months due to technical problems with their spacecraft. After arriving at the ISS in June 2024, the delays meant they only returned to Earth on 18 March 2025.

    ALSO READ | Tunisian court sentences opposition figures in mass terrorism trial

    STAR OF SECTOR 2025
    Don Pettit Don Pettit returns to Earth International Space Station NASA Oldest American to serve in Space Oldest astronaut Soyuz MS-26 Spacecraft Spaceflight
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
    Avatar
    News Desk

    The news/article published above has been sourced, compiled, and corroborated by a member of the Britain Herald News Desk Team. If you have any queries or complaints about the published material, please get in touch with us at BritainHerald@Gmail.Com

    Newly Updated

    South Africa condemns US move to resettle White Afrikaners

    May 10, 2025

    UK to announce fresh sanctions on shadow fleet

    May 9, 2025

    US-China trade talks: Trump signals tariff reduction

    May 9, 2025
    STAR OF SECTOR 2025

    Business

    US-China trade talks: Trump signals tariff reduction

    World Roundup May 9, 2025

    United States: US President Donald Trump has hinted at a potential easing of tariffs on…

    MJ Mathew Takes Executive Role at WellMade Network

    May 8, 2025

    UK and India sign trade deal to slash tariffs and boost exports

    May 7, 2025

    DoorDash to take over Deliveroo in landmark international deal

    May 6, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Curious

    Glowing Spiral appears in night sky; Linked to SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket

    March 25, 2025

    Once dubbed ‘Ugliest’; Blobfish triumphs as NZ ‘Fish of the Year’

    March 19, 2025

    Giant Iceberg A23a runs aground near South Georgia; Easing wildlife fears

    March 5, 2025

    NASA Astronauts to return after nine months in Space

    March 5, 2025

    Get the latest news around the globe

    Knowledge

    Kashmir conflict: History of disputes, wars, and unresolved tensions

    World Roundup May 9, 2025

    New Delhi, India / Islamabad, Pakistan: The Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan has spanned…

    Snakebite survivor’s blood sparks universal antivenom discovery

    May 3, 2025

    ESA’s Biomass satellite set for launch to map forest carbon

    April 29, 2025

    Gigil: The new dictionary word for irresistible cuteness overload

    March 27, 2025
    18-EA-387-TryEngineeringSummerInst_BannerAd_300x250_Robot
    About Us
    About Us

    Britain Herald is a global news brand that plays a significant role in educating and informing the masses with informative content, the latest updates, and current affairs across the World.

    Operated and Managed by WellMade Network, the portal is a sister concern of GCC Business News and Emirati Times. For inquiries about Media Partnerships, Investment and other opportunities in line with our Editorial Policy, please contact us at;

    Email Us: News@BritainHerald.com
    Whatsapp: +971 5060 12456

    We Have

    South Africa condemns US move to resettle White Afrikaners

    May 10, 2025

    UK to announce fresh sanctions on shadow fleet

    May 9, 2025

    US-China trade talks: Trump signals tariff reduction

    May 9, 2025

    London Mayor Sadiq Khan backs green belt development

    May 9, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Instagram
    • Home
    • Business
    • Tech World
    • Awareness
    • Contact Us
    Privacy & Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions
    © 2002 BritainHerald.com, An Initiative by WellMade Network

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.