In an incredible feat of endurance and dedication, American astronaut Frank Rubio has shattered the record for the longest continuous stay in space, marking a historic milestone in American space exploration.
Breaking Records: Rubio’s Remarkable Journey
Since his arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in September 2022, Rubio has been making history. He has now surpassed the previous record held by fellow NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei.
But Rubio isn’t done yet. He’s on track to set another record in just a couple of weeks, solidifying his place in the annals of space exploration.
A Historic Achievement Looms
Rubio, along with his crewmates, cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, is scheduled to return to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. However, this return trip is not expected until at least September 27.
When they finally touch down on Earth, Rubio will have spent an astonishing 371 days on the ISS, making him the first American to spend more than a year in space.
Unexpected Challenges Along the Way
Rubio’s journey to breaking records was not without its challenges. The spacecraft that brought him and his crewmates to the ISS experienced a coolant leak in December.
This unforeseen issue rendered the spacecraft unsafe for the return trip to Earth. As a result, Russia’s federal space agency, Roscosmos, made the decision to launch an empty Soyuz craft to the ISS to bring the trio safely back home.
Space Records: How Does Rubio Compare?
While Rubio’s achievement is truly remarkable, it’s worth noting some other significant records in space exploration:
- Most Consecutive Days in Space: Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds this record, spending an incredible 437 continuous days in orbit on Russia’s Mir space station between 1994 and 1995.
- Farthest Distance from Earth: The farthest humans have ventured from our planet was during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 when NASA astronauts James Lovell, Fred Haise, and John Swigert passed over the far side of the Moon, approximately 248,655 miles (400,171 km) from Earth. Their mission, though fraught with challenges, demonstrated the ingenuity and determination of spacefarers.
- Farthest Human-Made Object in Space: Voyager-1, launched by NASA in 1977, holds the title for the most distant human-made object in space. Currently, it is nearly 15 billion miles away from Earth. Voyager-1 was also the first man-made object to leave our solar system and carries records of Earth’s sounds, images, and life, in case it encounters extraterrestrial life in the future.
- Fastest Spacecraft Speed: In 2021, the Parker Solar Probe achieved an astounding speed of 364,660 mph (586,800 km). This probe made history by being the first spacecraft to get close to the Sun’s corona, enduring the Sun’s powerful gravity as it performed its close flybys.
Rubio’s accomplishment adds a new chapter to the book of human space exploration, demonstrating the resilience and dedication of astronauts in the face of unexpected challenges. As we look to the future, it’s clear that the boundaries of space exploration continue to expand, promising more exciting records and discoveries on the horizon.
