NASA astronaut Dr. Frank Rubio has made history by setting a new American record for the longest consecutive stay in space, spending a remarkable 371 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Rubio, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, safely landed in rural Kazakhstan on September 27 after their Soyuz spacecraft's return was delayed due to damage.
Originally scheduled for a year-long mission, Rubio's journey was extended when their spacecraft suffered an uncontrollable radiator leak caused by space debris or a meteoroid impact in December 2022.
The damaged capsule was replaced in February, allowing their return.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised Rubio's record-breaking mission, emphasizing its importance for future space exploration.
Rubio's stay, during which he completed approximately 5,936 orbits of Earth, will provide invaluable insights into the effects of prolonged spaceflight on the human body.
Rubio's mission involved 21 hours of spacewalks, 28 different crewmates on the ISS, and various scientific experiments.
Notably, he studied bacterial behaviour in microgravity and cultivated a tomato plant in space.
Upon his return, Rubio faces the challenge of readjusting to Earth's gravity, which can impact muscle strength, bone density, eyesight, balance, and even brain structure.
Given that this was his first space mission, the extent of his adaptation period remains uncertain, but he estimates it may take up to six months to fully regain his terrestrial equilibrium.
Frank Rubio's mission serves as a testament to human endurance in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and space exploration, paving the way for future endeavours beyond Earth's orbit.
