NASA’s most senior astronaut, Don Pettit, recently shared the challenges he faced upon returning to Earth after spending 220 days in space. The transition back from life in space can be tough, with astronauts experiencing various side effects from their time away from Earth. At 70 years old, Don has been open about the difficulties he encountered after his latest mission.
Don, together with two cosmonauts, made their way back aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft following a seven-month stint on the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey concluded with a landing in Kazakhstan, where images captured Don being assisted to a medical tent.
The photos of his return sparked concern online over his appearance. Don addressed these concerns, stating, “I didn’t look too good because I didn’t feel too good.” During a recent press briefing, he explained, “I was right in the middle of emptying the contents of my stomach onto the steppes of Kazakhstan.”
In case you’re wondering why there aren’t any photos capturing this moment, Don clarified the situation. “They’re polite, and they don’t have a camera shoved in your face when you’re in the middle of doing that,” he said. “They cut away to give you a little bit of privacy when you’re not feeling too good. Because, after all, nobody wants to be on camera when you’re doing that.”
Don expressed that returning to Earth has always been a struggle for him, attributing it to his body’s unique response. “Some people can roll off a [space] shuttle flight, and they’re ready to go out and have pizza and dance,” he remarked. “Someone like me, coming back to Earth has always been a significant challenge. And even with a 16-day shuttle mission, that felt about like being gone for six months on space station. And that’s just my physiology.”
Currently, Don is on the mend and undergoing rehabilitation for the next several weeks. Despite the challenges of returning to Earth, he shared that life in space feels rejuvenating. “It makes me feel like I’m 30 years old again,” Don said. “All that kind of stuff heals up because you’re sleeping, you’re just floating and your body, all these little aches and pains and everything heal up.”