Latest News About Oldest Living Astronaut

Updated 2026-04-21 12:07

Direct answer: Buzz Aldrin is the oldest living moonwalker and was 96 as of January 2026; as of 2026, Don Pettit was highlighted in recent news as NASA’s oldest active astronaut who returned to Earth in 2025 at age 70. However, ongoing “oldest living astronaut” status can change with retirements or new confirmations, so the latest updates should be checked from reliable space-news outlets.[4][5]

Latest highlights you might find:

Buzz Aldrin turning 96 in January 2026 and remaining one of the oldest living moonwalkers.[5]
Don Pettit’s 2025 return from the ISS at age 70, noted as NASA’s oldest active astronaut.[1][4]
Other candidates occasionally cited in media include long-time veteran astronauts, but recent confirmed “oldest living” status is most reliably updated by NASA or major space-news sites.[7][8]

Would you like me to pull the very latest article ranges and provide a concise timeline with sources? I can also tailor to a specific region or language if you prefer.[1][4][5]

Sources

Who is the oldest surviving astronaut?

Who is the oldest surviving astronaut? - isp.page

isp.page

NASA astronaut, 70, reflects on his 220-day mission - ABC30

"You're floating, and your body, all these little aches and pains, and everything heal up, and you feel like you're 30 years old again," the 70-year-old veteran astronaut said.

abc30.com

Oldest astronaut Buzz Aldrin turns 96 as new moon ... - Phys.org

Buzz Aldrin, the second man and only one of 12 to ever walk on the moon, turns 96 today. He's just one of four living moonwalkers and the oldest remaining astronaut still making trips around the sun.

phys.org

NASA's Oldest Astronaut Returns from Cosmic Adventure at 70

Don Pettit, NASA's oldest active astronaut, recently returned from a seven-month mission on the ISS at age 70. Celebrating his birthday in space, Pettit spent 220 days orbiting Earth, feeling decades younger in microgravity. Despite post-landing challenges like vomiting due to gravity, Pettit's enthusiasm for space remains undiminished as he advocates for extending the ISS's operational life beyond 2030. Ready for future missions, Pettit's journey challenges age stereotypes and continues to...

opentools.ai

NASA's oldest active astronaut Don Pettit to make 4th trip to ISS on Sept. 11

This will be Pettit's 4th spaceflight.

www.space.com

World's Oldest Spacewalker: Russian Cosmonaut Makes ...

At 59, Pavel Vinogradov became the oldest person to venture into the vacuum of space.