Astronauts face unique challenges when performing everyday tasks in space, and getting dressed is no exception. NASA astronaut Don Pettit recently shared a video demonstrating his unconventional way of putting on pants aboard the International Space Station (ISS), leaving viewers both amused and amazed.

Jumping into Pants – The Zero-Gravity Way

On February 21, Pettit posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, showing how he gets dressed in a weightless environment. Rather than following the conventional one-leg-at-a-time method, he gracefully floated mid-air and slid into his trousers with both legs simultaneously. The veteran astronaut captioned the video with a simple yet effective phrase: “Two legs at a time.”

The clip quickly gained traction online, with social media users reacting enthusiastically. One user commented, “I thought you were going to land right in them at first. Haha. That might be fun to try.” Another viewer joked, “That’s so smooth, damn.” A third user humorously noted, “Missed opportunity to not have the theme from Space Odyssey 2001 playing for this.”

Who Is Don Pettit?

Don Pettit, 69, is one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, having spent over 370 days in space across multiple missions. Born in Silverton, Oregon, in 1955, he holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona. Pettit was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996 and first traveled to space in 2002 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113) as part of Expedition 6.

He gained widespread recognition for his “Saturday Morning Science” experiments, where he showcased fascinating physics demonstrations in microgravity. Pettit has flown on several missions, including Expedition 30/31 in 2011-2012, and has contributed significantly to space research and technology. He is also known for his in-orbit inventions, such as the Zero G Cup, which allows astronauts to drink liquids in microgravity without the use of straws.

On September 11, 2024, Pettit launched aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft alongside Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. He is currently serving as a flight engineer on the ISS as part of Expedition 72, where he is expected to spend six months conducting scientific research and station maintenance.