Calay News
Astronaut Frank Rubio, of Salvadoran origin, has achieved a significant milestone by setting a new record for permanence in space for an American by spending more than 355 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Rubio, who was born in Los Angeles, California, and lived part of his childhood in El Salvador, is a doctor by training and a helicopter pilot. During a live-streamed conversation with NASA from the ISS, Rubio described his experience as an “incredible challenge” but also an “incredible blessing.” With his record already in his pocket, Rubio aims to reach 365 days in space, considering this a significant milestone for his nation.
The previous space record for an American was held by Mark Vande, who spent 355 days in orbit in 2022. However, the world record in this category belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valeri Poliakov, who amassed a staggering total of 437 days in space. space.
Rubio’s mission, originally scheduled to last six months, was extended due to unexpected circumstances. The Russian Soyuz rocket that carried Rubio and two cosmonauts to the ISS was due to return in December as an emergency escape craft, but suffered a leak possibly caused by the impact of a small meteorite. As a result, the Russian space agency Roscosmos sent a new uncrewed rocket to replace the original, and Rubio and his companions continued the mission as planned.
Rubio is scheduled to return to Earth on September 27, having spent a total of 371 days in space by then. Although his achievement is impressive, the record for staying in space worldwide still belongs to Peggy Whitson, a former American astronaut who accumulated 675 days on various space missions.
