Title: American Astronaut Frank Rubio Sets Record for Longest Time in Space
Subtitle: Trapped on International Space Station, Rubio patiently awaits return
By [Author’s Name]
[date]
Frank Rubio, an American astronaut of Salvadoran origin, has recently broken a record for spending the longest amount of time in space by an American. Since his departure on September 21, 2022, Rubio has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS), located approximately 400 kilometers from Earth. However, rather than celebrating his achievement, Rubio finds himself trapped on the ISS and yearning to return home.
Rubio’s journey to the space station involved a shared agreement between NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. While Rubio traveled aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-22, Roscosmos simultaneously placed cosmonaut Anna Kikina on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, which successfully returned on March 11, 2023.
The reason for Rubio’s prolonged stay in space is not of his own accord but due to an incident that occurred last December. A refrigerant leak in the Soyuz capsule damaged the spacecraft, rendering it incapable of returning Rubio to Earth. Despite the setback, the astronaut remains optimistic, with assurances that technical difficulties are being addressed and a solution is underway.
In an interview with the Spanish-language American network Univision, Rubio expressed his desire to be reunited with his family and emphasized the challenges technicians face in resolving the issue. He acknowledged the possibility of remaining on the International Space Station for an additional 3 to 6 months.
To facilitate Rubio’s return, a Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was sent to the ISS on February 24, carrying not only Rubio but also Russian cosmonauts Serguei Prokopiev and Dmitri Petelin. However, their return is contingent upon the Soyuz MS-23 mission scheduled for September.
Despite his unexpected predicament, Rubio has made history within the NASA community. With over 200 days in space, he currently holds the record as the longest-serving American astronaut. There are plans for Rubio to return to space in September, potentially making him the first American astronaut to spend a year in space.
Although Rubio’s achievement is commendable, the ultimate record for the longest continuous stay in space belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov. Between 1994 and 1995, Polyakov spent an astounding 437 days aboard the Russian Mir space station.
For now, Rubio’s focus remains on resolving the technical issues impeding his return, while the world waits to see if he can successfully complete his record-breaking mission and reunite with his loved ones here on Earth.