Donald Pettit is an American astronaut and chemical engineer known for his orbital astrophotography and in space inventions, including the Space Cup, which received the first patent ever granted for an object invented in space. He has flown three long duration missions aboard the International Space Station, one Space Shuttle mission, and a six week expedition searching for meteorites in Antarctica, accumulating 590 days in space. As of 2026, at age 71, he is the oldest active NASA astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit, behind John Glenn and Larry Connor.
Facts
Number of Flights Classification
Astronaut Role Dating
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Associated With
Source Donald Pettit - Wikipedia
Operated By
Source Donald Pettit - Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases
Nationality
Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Don Pettit
Sources
1. Donald Pettit - Wikipedia
Infobox, birth_date
1955-04-20
Introduction
an American astronaut and chemical engineer
Article text, firsts
As of 2026, at age 71, he is NASA's oldest active astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit, behind John Glenn and Larry Connor.
- Infobox, selection
Article text
Pettit was a mission specialist on the STS-126
Operated By: NASA, Lead paragraph, operated-by
As of 2026, at age 71, he is NASA's oldest active astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit, behind John Glenn and Larry Connor.
Associated With: NASA, Lead paragraph, associated-with
As of 2026, at age 71, he is NASA's oldest active astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit, behind John Glenn and Larry Connor.
In Group: Space Shuttle Astronauts, Lead sentence
He is a veteran of three long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, one Space Shuttle mission, and a six-week expedition to find meteorites in Antarctica.
View the Source2. The Space Devs Launch Library 2: Launch Library 2 astronaut list, records 401 to 500
The Space Devs Launch Library 2Astronaut record 505, Donald PettitQuote, Astronaut record 505, Donald Pettit
"name": "Donald Pettit" ... "flights_count": 4
Wikidata: Don Pettit
Wikidata Q363250, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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