On his 70th birthday, Don Pettit, America's oldest full-time astronaut, made a triumphant return to Earth after an astonishing 220 days aboard the International Space Station.

During his first press conference post-mission, Pettit was in high spirits, despite a rough landing that left him feeling a bit queasy. He humorously recounted how he found himself regrettably unwell upon touching down on the Kazakh steppes.

"Returning to gravity is always a significant challenge," Pettit admitted, reflecting on his extensive nearly 30-year career with NASA. Now, as he adds 590 days—over 18 months—of space experience to his resume, Pettit has become adept at handling the rigors of re-entry.

Speaking of his return to Earth, he candidly noted that he didn’t look or feel his best after the intense experience: "I didn’t look too good because I didn’t feel too good," he said, referencing photos from his descent.

However, the life above the Earth was a stark contrast. Pettit reminisced about the freedom of weightlessness: "A week ago, I was on station, easily doing heavy squats and dead lifts. I felt like I was at the peak of my game!" He expressed the humbling effect of returning to gravity, where even rising from the floor became a daunting task.

Yet, he couldn’t hide his love for space: "When you're floating while sleeping, all those little aches and pains heal up. It feels like being 30 again—pain-free and liberated."

While Pettit is NASA's oldest living astronaut, he isn't the oldest to have flown in space. That title goes to William Shatner and Ed Dwight, both 90 during their spaceflights. Pettit, however, believes he holds the record for the longest duration spent in space among astronauts of his age.

As he allows his body to readjust to the familiar pull of Earth, Pettit is already eyeing future missions. "I’ve got a few more good years left," he affirmed, hinting that he might not be done with the cosmos just yet.

Stay tuned as this inspiring astronaut might just blast off again!