NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and his crew completed an extraordinary 371-day space mission, surpassing NASA's previous record for the longest time a US astronaut has spent in space.
They safely returned to Earth using a replacement Soyuz capsule launched in February due to concerns about space debris damaging the original capsule.
(Photo : Bill Ingalls/NASA)
Expedition 69 NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is helped out of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft just minutes after he Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.
NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio Successfully Returned to Earth
According to NASA, Frank Rubio and his fellow crew members successfully returned to Earth on Wednesday after an extraordinary 371-day mission in space. With a sense of relief and accomplishment, Rubio expressed his elation after being safely extracted from the capsule: "It's good to be home."
The trio, which included Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, departed from the International Space Station (ISS) at 3:54 a.m. EDT and safely touched down at 7:17 a.m. southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, with the assistance of parachutes.
The return of Rubio and his fellow cosmonauts was facilitated by a Soyuz capsule, a replacement launched in February.
The original capsule faced a potential threat from space debris, suspected of piercing its radiator during a mission that should have lasted six months. To prevent overheating of the capsule's electronics and ensure the safety of any occupants, the craft returned empty.
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Breaking Records
What was initially planned as a 180-day mission extended into a remarkable 371-day journey in space for Frank Rubio. CNN reported that this prolonged stay surpassed NASA's previous record for a single spaceflight, held by Mark Vande Hei.
Late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the world record for the longest continuous stay in space. He spent an impressive 437 days aboard Russia's Mir space station, maintaining his orbit from January 1994 to March 1995.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed Rubio's historic achievement, emphasizing its significance in advancing our knowledge of extended space missions.
Nelson acknowledged the immense sacrifices made by astronauts like Rubio, who spend extended periods away from their homes and families to push the boundaries of discovery.
Nelson expressed NASA's profound gratitude for Rubio's unwavering dedication to the nation's space exploration endeavors. He also highlighted Rubio's invaluable scientific contributions during his time on the ISS.
Associated Press reported that Rubio, aged 47, an Army doctor and helicopter pilot, revealed in a recent press conference that he would not have agreed to a full year in space had it been proposed initially.
The mission led to him missing significant family events, such as his eldest child's first year at the U.S. Naval Academy and another child's departure for West Point.
Rubio found the psychological challenges of such an extended space journey more demanding than anticipated. It is worth noting that NASA currently has no plans for additional yearlong missions.
This mission marked the debut spaceflight for both Rubio and his fellow astronaut, engineer Dmitri Petelin, 40. On the other hand, Sergey Prokopyev, 48, an engineer and pilot, has now completed two extended stays aboard the ISS.
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