Video NASA's oldest active astronaut on 220-day mission: 'I feel like a little kid'
Veteran astronaut Don Pettit conducted hundreds of hours of research and captured over half a million photos during his ISS mission.
abcnews.go.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reports:
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The longest-serving living astronaut widely cited in 2025-2026 coverage is Don Pettit, who returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after a 220-day mission aboard the ISS (April 2025). He was celebrated for completing science work in microgravity, including water sanitization research and plant growth studies. Pettit’s return marked a notable milestone for NASA’s long-running mission programs.[1][2][3][5]
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Another prominent figure sometimes described in similar searches is Jim Lovell, noted for historic Apollo-era missions, but he passed away in 2025 at age 97. This event is separate from Pettit’s ongoing activity as the oldest active-duty or current astronaut in those reports.[6]
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For context, coverage around Pettit emphasized his exceptional longevity in the role, his recovery after returning to Earth, and his reflections on space life after decades of training and spaceflight.[4][7][9]
If you’d like, I can narrow results to a specific region (e.g., UK-based outlets) or pull more details on Pettit’s mission findings and post-flight status. Would you like a quick summary of Pettit’s mission highlights or links to video briefings and interviews?
Citations:
- NASA’s oldest active astronaut Pettit’s return and mission details.[1]
- Coverage confirming Pettit’s 70th birthday and landing in Kazakhstan.[2]
- NASA and media reporting on Pettit’s post-flight status and reflections.[3][5]
- Note on Jim Lovell’s death in 2025 for completeness.[6]