While most people celebrate their 70th birthday with cake and family, NASA's oldest active astronaut, Don Pettit, marked the occasion on an extraordinary note—by returning to Earth after a stunning seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

On April 20, the very day he turned 70, Pettit and his fellow astronauts, Russian cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, completed their memorable excursion as their Soyuz capsule safely landed in Kazakhstan. Can you imagine celebrating a milestone birthday 220 miles above our planet?

During their mission, Pettit and his crew orbited Earth a staggering 3,520 times, traveling approximately 150 million kilometers—a distance that underscores the incredible challenges and adventures faced in space.

This mission was Pettit’s fourth journey into space, bringing his total time spent in orbit to over 18 months during a remarkable 29-year career in space exploration.

As the capsule descended, NASA's breathtaking images captured a stunning sunrise in the background. Upon landing at 1:20 AM GMT, the astronauts were warmly welcomed by rescue teams, giving thumbs-up signs as they were carefully transported from their spacecraft to a medical tent.

Although Pettit showed signs of the rigors of space travel, NASA confirmed he was in good health, stating he was expected to be just fine after the journey back to Earth.

Following the landing, Pettit was set to travel to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, before making his way to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas.

Throughout their time on the ISS, Pettit and his comrades conducted vital research, including studies on water sanitization, plant growth adaptation, and fire behavior in microgravity environments.

Their seven-month mission was remarkable, especially when compared to previous NASA missions, like that of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who found themselves unexpectedly stranded for nine months due to technical complications.

Don Pettit's journey is a testament to human resilience and the incredible advancements in space exploration. Cheers to him on this unforgettable birthday!