NASA
🇺🇸 Don Pettit
NASANASAActive
United States•Born 1955•NASA
Space gives me a fresh perspective on chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Born
1955 · Silverton, Oregon, USA
Selected
Astronaut class of 1996
Education
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University; Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Arizona.
4
Missions
1.6 years
Time in Space
2
EVAs
13h
EVA Hours
Flight History
First Flight
November 23, 2002
Last Flight
April 19, 2025
Biography
Chemical engineer and one of NASA's most prolific science astronauts, known for inventing zero-gravity tools and viral physics demonstrations. Returned from his fourth mission in April 2025.
Records & Firsts
Notable accomplishments by Don Pettit
- Oldest active NASA astronaut to fly long-duration ISS missions (age 69-70 on Expedition 71/72)
- Inventor of the 'zero-g coffee cup'
Mission Timeline
- Flight Engineer
Soyuz MS-26
Expedition 71/72
Launch: Sep 11, 2024Landing: Apr 19, 2025Duration: 220 days- Returned home on his 70th birthday
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