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NASA’s Veteran Astronaut Completes Remarkable Mission
In a significant milestone for space exploration, NASA astronaut Donald Pettit returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on his 70th birthday. His journey, along with Russian cosmonauts Aleksey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, concluded after a seven-month mission aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft. The Soyuz launched on September 11, 2024, and successfully landed on April 20, 2025, at 6:20 AM local time in the steppes of Kazakhstan. Celebrating his birthday in such a historic manner marks a unique achievement in Pettit’s illustrious space career, during which he has amassed over 13 hours of spacewalks.
Legacy of Pettit
As highlighted by space.com, this mission represented the fourth flight for both Pettit and Ovchinin, while it was Vagner’s second expedition. Collectively, the crew has spent significant time in space—Pettit for 590 days, Ovchinin at 595 days, and Vagner with 416 days. They together orbited Earth a remarkable 3,520 times, covering an incredible 93.3 million miles over the course of their mission. NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers expressed her sentiments on social media, noting that while it was a poignant farewell, Pettit’s mission served as a source of inspiration for many.
Back to Earth
The return journey commenced at 5:57 PM EDT on Saturday when the Soyuz spacecraft undocked from the ISS. Following a deorbit burn lasting approximately two and a half hours, the capsule re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, carrying its crew home. Meanwhile, other astronauts including Anne McCain, Ayers, and Jonny Kim, along with JAXA’s Takuya Onishi and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, remain onboard the ISS to continue their scientific endeavors.
Soyuz Spacecraft MS-26
Pettit’s return marked an important chapter in the history of space travel, showcasing the capabilities of the Soyuz spacecraft MS-26. This mission facilitated long-term microgravity research encompassing various scientific domains, including biology, physics, and materials science. Additionally, the spacecraft was prepared to serve as an emergency vehicle for extended missions lasting up to 220 days.
Pettit’s Achievements
Renowned for his significant contributions to space science, Pettit has gained recognition for his innovative approach to experiments, including the development of novel g-cups for drinking coffee in microgravity. He has also played a crucial role in overseeing SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission aboard the Dragon Freedom and participated in the Crew-10 mission on Dragon Endurance, as well as the Cygnus cargo ship departure. His tenure as a flight engineer during Expeditions 30 and 31 in 2012 further exemplifies his extensive experience and commitment to advancing space exploration.
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