In an extraordinary return to Earth, an NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts are back on solid ground after a remarkable year-long journey in space. American astronaut Frank Rubio set a new record for the longest U.S. spaceflight due to this extended stay.
According to Sahara Reporters, the trio made their landing in a remote area of Kazakhstan, descending in a Soyuz capsule that was quickly deployed as a replacement after their original spacecraft was struck by space debris and lost its coolant supply while docked to the International Space Station.
What was initially planned as a 180-day mission turned into an astonishing 371-day voyage. Rubio’s journey in space exceeded NASA’s previous endurance record, which was held by Mark Vande Hei for a single spaceflight.
Russia still maintains the world record for the longest space mission, which lasted 437 days during the mid-1990s.
The Soyuz capsule that safely brought Rubio, along with cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, back to Earth was a replacement launched in February. Russian engineers suspect that space debris punctured the radiator of their original capsule late last year, halfway through what was initially intended as a six-month mission. The concern was that without proper cooling, the capsule’s electronics and occupants could overheat to dangerous levels, leading to the return of the empty craft.
It took almost two weeks for a fresh Soyuz crew to launch and arrive to take their place.
Denmark’s Andreas Mogensen, the new commander of the space station, expressed heartfelt sentiments earlier this week: “No one deserves to go home to their families more than you.”
Throughout the descent, Prokopyev maintained contact with ground controllers, reporting that all three astronauts were feeling well. The capsule experienced over four times the force of gravity as it hurtled through the Earth’s atmosphere, ultimately landing on its side in the desolate Kazakh steppes. Recovery crews, assisted by helicopters, quickly moved in to retrieve the astronauts.
“It’s good to be home,” Rubio joyfully exclaimed after exiting the capsule.
Rubio, aged 47, an Army doctor and helicopter pilot, revealed during a news conference last week that he would not have agreed to a full year in space if asked initially. He missed important family milestones during his mission, including his eldest child completing her first year at the U.S. Naval Academy and another child heading to West Point
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