Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, along with two Russian cosmonaut colleagues, is preparing to return to Earth this evening, April 19th. Space enthusiasts and the public can watch live coverage of their homecoming as their mission aboard the International Space Station concludes.
NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Returns to Earth: Watch Live Homecoming
The crew, including NASA’s Don Pettit, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner, will journey back to Earth in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The Soyuz is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 5:57 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) today (2157 GMT). The landing is anticipated to occur on the steppes of Kazakhstan approximately 3.5 hours following undocking, at around 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 GMT on April 20, or 6:20 a.m. local Kazakh time).
You can witness these pivotal moments unfold live. Webcasts will be available on Space.com, provided by NASA, and through the agency’s official channels.
Live Coverage Details
NASA will provide extensive live webcast coverage throughout the day. Key broadcast times include:
- 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT): Departure webcast begins, featuring farewell ceremonies and the sealing of hatches between the Soyuz and the ISS.
- 2:25 p.m. EDT (1825 GMT): Hatch closure between Soyuz and ISS expected.
- 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT): Coverage resumes, leading up to the Soyuz undocking from the ISS.
- 8:00 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT on April 20): Coverage restarts for the crucial deorbit burn, atmospheric entry, descent, and landing of the Soyuz.
Mission Highlights
Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner embarked on their mission to the ISS on September 11, 2024. Their time in orbit totals 220 days. This mission marks a significant milestone for each astronaut:
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- This mission represents the fourth spaceflight for both Pettit and Ovchinin.
- It is the second journey into space for Vagner.
For admirers of space exploration, Don Pettit’s return may signal the end of an era in some respects. The astronaut has gained considerable recognition for his captivating and imaginative space photography, generously sharing his unique perspective of Earth and space through social media.
Adding another layer of significance to his return, Pettit stands as the most senior active member of NASA’s astronaut corps. He will be celebrating his 70th birthday on April 20th, shortly after landing in Kazakhstan. Despite the Kazakhstan landing occurring on April 20th local time, it will still be April 19th in his U.S. home time zone.