Dan Pettit, America’s oldest active astronaut, has returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after completing his fourth mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Veteran U.S. astronaut Dan Pettit safely landed in Kazakhstan early Sunday morning, marking the end of a 220-day mission aboard the ISS. Pettit, accompanied by Russian crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, touched down in the Soyuz MS-26 capsule at 06:20 local time (01:20 GMT), assisted by parachutes in the open Kazakh steppe.
According to NASA, the trio orbited Earth 3,520 times during their mission. For Pettit, this latest journey brings his cumulative time in space to an impressive 590 days, reinforcing his status as one of NASA’s most seasoned astronauts. Born in Oregon on April 20, 1955, Pettit reached this milestone on his 70th birthday.
Despite his achievement, Pettit is not the oldest person to have flown in space. That distinction remains with John Glenn, who returned to orbit in 1998 at the age of 77. Glenn, a legendary figure in American spaceflight history, passed away in 2016.
Following their return, Pettit and his crewmates will undergo a period of physical readjustment as they reacclimate to Earth’s gravity. Pettit will then travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, while Ovchinin and Vagner will return to Russia’s Star City space training center near Moscow.
Before their departure, the crew officially handed over command of the ISS to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi.
This return follows another recent extended stay aboard the space station. Last month, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally came back to Earth after spending more than nine months in space—far beyond their initially planned eight-day mission. The delay stemmed from technical problems with the spacecraft that brought them to the ISS in June 2024, forcing them to wait until March 18 of this year to return.
From May 13–24, the 78th Cannes Film Festival brings together veteran auteurs like Wes Anderson and breakout talents such as Ari Aster, alongside Hollywood heavyweights—from Tom Cruise to Emma Stone—on a red carpet primed for glamour and cinematic competition.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, paving the way for stronger bilateral relations.
Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
U.S. and Chinese officials reported "substantial progress" in tariff negotiations held in Geneva, though specific details remain scarce. A joint statement is expected to be released on Monday.
From May 13–24, the 78th Cannes Film Festival brings together veteran auteurs like Wes Anderson and breakout talents such as Ari Aster, alongside Hollywood heavyweights—from Tom Cruise to Emma Stone—on a red carpet primed for glamour and cinematic competition.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, paving the way for stronger bilateral relations.
Eurovision hopefuls hit the turquoise carpet in Basel as Switzerland hosts the song contest for the first time since 1989—setting the stage for a week of music, unity, and glitter.
Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Pope Leo XIV made a surprise visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. AnewZ covered the event, with journalist Maria Rodriguez Abalde on-site. She witnessed the occasion firsthand and documented key moments. More images and footage will be available soon.
President Donald Trump is set to begin his Middle East tour, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. The trip aims to boost trade and investment, with a focus on energy, defense, and technology deals, including a $1 trillion commitment from Saudi Arabia.
From May 13–24, the 78th Cannes Film Festival brings together veteran auteurs like Wes Anderson and breakout talents such as Ari Aster, alongside Hollywood heavyweights—from Tom Cruise to Emma Stone—on a red carpet primed for glamour and cinematic competition.
Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
U.S. and Chinese officials reported "substantial progress" in tariff negotiations held in Geneva, though specific details remain scarce. A joint statement is expected to be released on Monday.
From May 13–24, the 78th Cannes Film Festival brings together veteran auteurs like Wes Anderson and breakout talents such as Ari Aster, alongside Hollywood heavyweights—from Tom Cruise to Emma Stone—on a red carpet primed for glamour and cinematic competition.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, paving the way for stronger bilateral relations.
Eurovision hopefuls hit the turquoise carpet in Basel as Switzerland hosts the song contest for the first time since 1989—setting the stage for a week of music, unity, and glitter.
Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment