While most seniors might enjoy cake and gifts for their 70th birthday, NASA's Don Pettit celebrated by descending to Earth after an incredible adventure in space!

The veteran astronaut made history on his birthday as he and two Russian cosmonauts landed in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz capsule, concluding a remarkable seven-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday.

At precisely 0420 Moscow time (0120 GMT), the Soyuz MS-26 capsule touched down near the town of Zhezkazgan, marking a milestone for Pettit, who has journeyed to space four times in his illustrious 29-year career.

During their extraordinary stay, Pettit, Alexei Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner orbited the Earth a staggering 3,520 times, traveling a jaw-dropping 93.3 million miles!

The crew's descent was nothing short of breathtaking, as they returned to Earth just after watchful morning light bathed the landscape. Upon landing at 6:20 am (0120 GMT), images revealed the capsule gracefully parachuting down, with the astronauts enthusiastically giving thumbs-up signs to rescuers.

NASA later issued a statement confirming that Pettit was in good health, following a safe return to the ground. After a brief check-up in an inflatable medical tent, he prepared for a flight to Karaganda, before heading to the Johnson Space Center in Texas.

While aboard the ISS, the trio dedicated their time to groundbreaking research in essential areas such as water sanitization technology, plant growth in varying conditions, and the behavior of fire in the unique environment of microgravity.

This remarkable seven-month mission is a short jaunt compared to the record-setting nine months that previous astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams experienced due to unexpected technical issues.

Don Pettit's extraordinary birthday adventure not only highlights his remarkable contributions to space exploration but also celebrates a life dedicated to pushing the boundaries human knowledge.