Who is Don Pettit? Nasa's 70-year-old 'Space Grandpa' who just came home after 220 days in orbit | Today news

On Pettit, Nasa’s 70-year-old astronaut ended up safely in Kazakhstan, which was the successful closing of his fourth space cruise, a seven-month mission on board the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit is the oldest active astronaut of NASA and one of the most experienced in the history of space exploration. With over 590 days in orbit, he keeps the record in space for most time by any American male astronaut. Pettit’s career, known for his groundbreaking contributions to science and technology, spans nearly three decades, making him a prominent figure in spatial research and public outreach. His latest return of space Another remarkable chapter after his legacy in exploring space. Profile: Don Pettit Donald Roy Pettit, born April 20, 1955, is a well -known American astronaut and chemical engineer who holds an excellent place in the history of space exploration. Pettit, known for his groundbreaking contributions to both science and technology, has accumulated more than 590 days in space – more than any other American male astronaut. At 2025, at the age of 70, Pettit remained the oldest active astronaut of Nasa and the second oldest person who ever reached orbit, just behind John Glenn. During his long career, Pettit became known for his innovations in space, especially his invention of the Zero G Cup, the first patent for an object invented in space. He is also known for his astrophotography and captures unique star trails and phenomena in space. His career spans three longevity aboard the International Space Station (ISS), one spacecraft mission and a fascinating expedition to Antarctica to seek meteorites. Early life and education born and raised in Silverton, Oregon, was clear from a young age. As an Eagle Scout, he showed early leadership skills and a dedication to scientific exploration. Pettit studied at Oregon State University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, followed by a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering of the University of Arizona in 1983. He worked as a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1984 to 1996 before being selected as a NASA spacer candidate in 1996. Journey to Space: First Mission and Breakthroughs Pettit’s first trip to space began in 2002 as a flight engineer on Expedition 6 Aboard the ISS. He was initially the backup for astronaut Donald Thomas, but was asked at the last minute to replace him for medical problems. Pettit did two extravehicular activities (EVAs) and participated in important scientific experiments, even filmed his popular series “Saturday Morning Science”, where he showed fluent behavior in micro -staring. Pettit’s return to Earth was characterized by a challenging Soyuz landing, which exposed him to extreme G forces. Technological Innovations: The Zero-G Cup and more Pettit’s inventive spirit have expanded further than scientific research. During his time on the ISS, he designed the Zero G Cup – a breakthrough in spacecraft that eliminated the need for straws in micro -star. The cup uses the surface tension of fluids to carry fluids along a crease, making it easier to drink in a zero gravity. This invention not only received widespread media attention, but also earned the first patent for an object created in space, as in the National Geographic Magazine in 2009. In addition, Pettit designed a barn door tracker during Expedition 6, which made a high resolution of the earth’s surface at night. This invention showed Pettit’s ingenuity and its ability to use available materials to solve complicated challenges in space. Multiple space aircraft and space contributions have undertaken three additional spatial missions during his career. His second mission, STS-126 in 2008, was a short expensive mission aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor, where he delivered supplies and equipment to the ISS. During this mission, Pettit performed pioneering experiments on the many of fixed particles in microgravity, promoting our understanding of planetary formation. On his third mission, Expedition 30/31 (2011-2012), Pettit played a key role in capturing the first commercial spacecraft, the SpaceX Dragon, which became the first private spacecraft with the ISS Rendezvous. Pettit famously said, “Houston, station, we have a dragon at the tail.” This mission was a historical milestone in the use of commercial space for re -offer missions to the ISS. Pettit also contributed to public outreach, including a collaboration with Rovio Entertainment to promote educational videos with the Angry Birds franchise, where he showed basic physics principles in space. Expedition to Antarctica: Meteorite Research and Science on Ice In addition to its space field, Pettit spent six weeks in Antarctica as part of the Antarctic search for meteorites (ANMet) program. There he collected meteorite samples, including a lunar meteorite, and became involved with scientific experiments. During this time, Pettit has performed emergency electrical repairs and dental surgery, all while continuing its ‘Saturday morning science’ series with unique experiments on ice and micrometeorites. Legacy and future in space exploration Don Pettit’s career is a testament to the importance of innovation, resilience and curiosity. As one of the most experienced astronauts in history, his contributions to spatial science, technology and education still influence the future of space exploration. Nasa space trailer and two Roscosmos food moon returns from ISS to seven months of mission, a Soyuz capsule with three astronauts two from Russia and one from the United States-who ended up safely in Kazakhstan on Sunday, which ended their seven months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The trio, consisting of Roscosmos -Food Monauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, along with Nasa spacier Don Pettit, touched on local time near Zhezkazgan at 06:20. Russian space agency Roscosmos confirmed that the parachute-supported landing was smooth and trouble-free, which was a successful return for the crew after spending 220 days in space. Seven months in orbit, astronauts completed an impressive 220 days in space, during which they orbit the earth a total of 3,520 times. Pettit, who celebrated his 70th birthday on the same day of landing, distinguished that he became the oldest active astronaut of Nasa while on board the spacecraft. It was his fourth space, which spent his total time in orbit until more than 18 months in the course of his 29 -year career with Nasa. Comparisons with the previous NASA missions This mission is striking because they are only short of the nine months that the NASA spacers spent Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the ISS, which was delayed in their return due to technical problems with the spacecraft they tested. These issues forced them to stay in orbit longer than originally planned. First Published: 21 Apr 2025, 12:36 am Ist