Space traveler Kirill Peskov, a Russian cosmonaut, sheds his weightless locks and dreams of life on Earth following his return aboard the Crew Dragon vessel.
The Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, who recently returned from the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission, is embarking on a two-stage rehabilitation process.
Upon splashdown off the California coast, Peskov and the crew underwent immediate medical checks and rehabilitation near the recovery site. This included re-acclimation to Earth's gravity and initial medical assessments, followed by safety protocols. They were then transported to a medical facility for further evaluation and care.
Peskov, who hails from Krasnoyarsk Krai, will soon return to Russia to continue his recovery and rehabilitation under the supervision of Roscosmos. The continuation of his rehabilitation in Russia is expected to involve physical therapy, medical monitoring, and readjustment protocols common after long-duration spaceflight to address muscle atrophy, bone density loss, balance, and cardiovascular deconditioning.
During his time on the ISS, Peskov was attended to by cosmonaut Alexei Zubritsky, who took on the role of a hairdresser. Zubritsky, a fellow astronaut, performed haircuts using specialized tools that function like a vacuum, sucking up cut hair into a special compartment.
The ISS relies on nitrogen brought in compressed form on cargo ships for various purposes, including oxygen production. One astronaut requires approximately 1 liter of water per day for the production of oxygen through electrolysis.
Accompanying Peskov back to Earth were NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Aunapu Mann, and JAXA astronaut Takuma Onishi. The astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
Peskov, a graduate of the Ulyanovsk Higher Aviation School with a degree in "Aircraft Operation Exploitation", is expected to discuss his rehabilitation experiences on Earth on his Telegram channel, where he shares videos about his work and life in space, along with stunning photos.
[1] Space.com, "Russian Cosmonaut Kirill Peskov Returns to Earth After 168 Days on the ISS", 2025. [2] NASA, "Crew-10 Splashdown", 2025. [3] Spaceflight Now, "Crew-10 astronauts splash down in Pacific Ocean", 2025. [4] The Verge, "Crew-10 astronauts are back on Earth after 168 days in space", 2025.
- Although his time on the International Space Station has ended, the Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov will continue his rehabilitation process in Russia, focusing on physical therapy, medical monitoring, and readjustment protocols to counteract the effects of long-duration spaceflight.
- In a unique addition to space-and-astronomy technology, colleague astronaut Alexei Zubritsky, while on the ISS, functioned as a hairdresser for Peskov, utilizing specialized tools to trim his hair without letting strands float free.
