On his 70th birthday, Don Pettit, America's oldest full-time astronaut, returned to Earth after an incredible 220 days aboard the International Space Station. Surprisingly, he felt invigorated, defying the expectations of aging in space.

In his first press conference back on Earth since touching down on April 20, Pettit seemed upbeat, though he humorously recalled his rough landing on the Kazakh steppes after a journey aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.

"Returning to Earth has always been a significant challenge," he explained at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. With nearly three decades of space experience, Pettit's cumulative time in orbit now stands at an astonishing 590 days, more than 18 months.

Upon his return, however, the effects of gravity were stark. He candidly admitted that he felt a bit worse for wear, joking that he didn't look too great in photos as he struggled to adapt back to Earth’s pull.

But in space, Pettit felt invincible. "Just a week ago, I was on the station, doing heavy squats and deadlifts, floating with ease. I felt like I was at my peak!" he reflected. "Now, back on Earth, even getting up from the floor feels daunting—it’s humbling."

Despite his challenges, Pettit relished his time in orbit: "Being in space is magical. When you sleep, you just float, and all those little aches and pains heal. It feels like being 30 again, free from pain and everything else."

While Pettit is NASA's oldest astronaut, he isn't the oldest person to fly in space. That record goes to actor William Shatner and former Air Force captain Ed Dwight, both of whom were 90 when they flew on Blue Origin capsules. Pettit, however, holds the title for the oldest individual to spend extensive time in space during his recent stint.

Now back on solid ground, Pettit is allowing himself time to recover but made clear he’s not done with space travel just yet. "I’ve got a few more good years left," he stated confidently. "I could see taking another flight or two before I hang up my rocket nozzles."

And in a nod to the ongoing fascination with elderly spacefaring, Pettit’s story reminds us all that adventures in space could come at any age!