NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has achieved a remarkable milestone by breaking the United States record for the longest spaceflight. On Monday, Rubio surpassed the previous U.S. space endurance record of 355 days while aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Rubio’s journey began last September when he arrived at the space station alongside two Russian cosmonauts for what was initially planned as a routine six-month mission. However, their stay at the ISS was unexpectedly extended due to a coolant leak in their Soyuz capsule, which was docked at the station. This unforeseen circumstance prompted mission controllers to prolong their mission duration.
The trio, consisting of Rubio and his Russian counterparts, is now scheduled to return to Earth on September 27th. They will be using a replacement capsule that was sent up to the ISS empty, specifically for their return journey. By the time of their return, Rubio will have spent an impressive 371 days in space, surpassing the previous U.S. record holder for a single spaceflight, Mark Vande Hei, by more than two weeks.
While Rubio’s achievement is remarkable on a national scale, the world record for the longest spaceflight still belongs to Russia, with a record of 437 days set back in the mid-1990s.
In recognition of Rubio’s dedication and accomplishment, NASA chief Bill Nelson conveyed his admiration through a message on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Your dedication is truly out of this world, Frank!”
Looking ahead, a replacement crew comprising two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut is set to launch to the ISS from Kazakhstan on Friday, ensuring the continuous presence of humans on the orbiting laboratory.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
