NASA astronaut Don Pettit has spoken candidly about the physical challenges he faced upon returning to Earth after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit, who is NASA’s oldest active astronaut, landed in Kazakhstan on 20 April—his 70th birthday—alongside two Russian cosmonauts. Upon exiting the Soyuz spacecraft, Pettit was visibly unwell, later explaining during a press conference that gravity, after 220 days in zero-G, was to blame for his bout of sickness.
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Speaking on 28 April, as reported by Space.com, Pettit described the return to Earth as filled with “creaks and groans,” and admitted that the reintroduction to gravity made him physically ill. “I didn’t look too good because I didn’t feel too good,” he said. “I was right in the middle of emptying the contents of my stomach onto the steppes of Kazakhstan.” Fortunately, the on-site camera crew gave him a moment of privacy. Later images showed him smiling in a chair, giving a thumbs-up while being assisted by recovery personnel.
Pettit also reflected on the physical benefits of living in space, noting that during his time aboard the ISS he experienced none of the everyday aches and stiffness common on Earth. “You’re just floating,” he explained, which allowed his body to feel far younger. “You feel like you’re 30 years old again — free of pain, free of everything and you’re ready to do your mission work. So I love being in orbit. It’s a great place to be.”
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His return follows that of fellow astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who also spent an extended period on the ISS. Their mission, initially planned for just 10 days, was prolonged to nine months due to delays. Pettit’s story adds to the ongoing narrative of how life in space — and the return from it — continues to test the limits of human endurance, even for the most experienced astronauts.
