Exclusively: NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio Shatters Space Records on Remarkable Mission

Get the latest science updates with CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Delve into the wonders of the universe as we provide fascinating discoveries, breakthroughs in scientific research, and much more. After his remarkable journey, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has successfully made his long-awaited return to Earth, experiencing the gravitational force of the planets once again after more than a year.

Rubio, along with his Russian counterparts, cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, successfully landed in Kazakhstan aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-23 capsule at 5:17 p.m. local time (7:17 a.m. ET) on Wednesday.

This marked the conclusion of an unexpected and extended journey for Rubio, as he was initially intended to spend just six months on the International Space Station. However, due to the detection of a coolant leak in his original spacecraft while docked at the space station, he ended up spending a total of 371 days in space.

Prior to their departure from the International Space Station, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, along with NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, gathered together for a photograph. The image was captured just before the Soyuz MS-23 space capsule undocked, initiating their journey back to Earth. Ultimately, they were destined for a parachute-assisted landing on the vast steppe of Kazakhstan.

Rubio's stay in microgravity set a groundbreaking record for the longest duration ever recorded by a US astronaut. Additionally, he achieved the remarkable distinction of being the first American to successfully complete an entire calendar year in space.

Rubio's remarkable mission also brought about significant milestones: it was his inaugural space voyage following his selection into the esteemed NASA astronaut corps in 2017. Additionally, at the commencement of the mission, he became the first astronaut of Salvadoran descent to venture into low-Earth orbit. In a recent conversation with CNN, Rubio confessed that had he been forewarned about the extension of his stay on the space station, which turned out to be twice as long as initially intended, he would likely have declined the assignment prior to embarking on his training.

"That's solely due to family matters that occurred over the past year," he stated. "Had I been aware that I would miss these highly significant occasions, I would politely decline the invitation." Rubio, a father of four, is now anticipated to commence his return journey from the landing location of the Soyuz spacecraft near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. He will initially travel to Karaganda, situated approximately 330 miles (530 kilometers) northeast of Dzhezkazgan, before catching a flight to Houston.

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NASA astronaut sets new record for longest time in space

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In total, Rubio and his fellow crew members covered a distance of 157.4 million miles (253.3 million kilometers) and completed 5,963 orbits around the Earth, as confirmed by NASA.

Rubio surpassed the previous record for the longest duration spent in space by an American astronaut, which was 355 days, previously held by NASA's Mark Vande Hei in 2022.

resulted in the achievement of the world record for the longest stay in space by the late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov. He spent a remarkable 437 consecutive days aboard Russia's Mir space station from January 1994 to March 1995.

Rubio, along with Prokopyev and Petelin, embarked on a journey to the space station using a Russian spacecraft. This trip was made possible through a ride-sharing agreement between NASA and Roscosmos. The agreement was established in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The purpose of this arrangement was to ensure that both the United States and Russia have access to the space station in case of spacecraft issues that could ground their astronauts. On September 21, 2022, Rubio, Prokopyev, and Petelin launched on the Soyuz MS-22 vehicle and arrived safely at the ISS three hours later. The Soyuz capsule remained docked to the space station's exterior while they began their work in the orbiting laboratory.

In an interview with reporters last week, Rubio thanked his family, noting their "resilience and strength has carried me through this entire mission."

Increasing risk from space debris

Less than three months into their mission, the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft experienced a coolant leakage issue. After reviewing investigations conducted by Roscosmos, NASA confirmed that the spacecraft had most likely been hit by a small object while in orbit. The culprit was identified as either a micrometeorite or a piece of orbital debris, which poses a growing danger in the crowded low-Earth orbit.

Due to the spacecraft's compromised condition, it was decided that the astronauts could not return in the Soyuz MS-22. Consequently, Roscosmos expedited the launch of a replacement vehicle, the Soyuz MS-23, in February.

A view shows the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft (on left) that carried Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio back to Earth.

Officials made the decision to extend Rubio's and his colleagues' stay as Roscosmos arranged for a new Soyuz capsule to be launched, enabling a fresh crew to replace them.

On September 15, the Soyuz MS-24 vehicle successfully transported NASA astronaut Loral OHara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub to the space station, enabling Rubio's return on Wednesday.

Rubio, a medical doctor and military helicopter pilot with over 600 hours of combat experience, admits that his transition back to his pre-spaceflight life may not be immediate due to the impact of extended periods in microgravity on the body.

"I won't be able to feel normal for approximately two to six months," he explained, referring to the fact that we don't walk or bear our own weight in space.

However, he is eagerly anticipating a plethora of earthly delights. "Here, we are constantly surrounded by the drone of machinery that sustains us," he conveyed in an interview from space. "Therefore, I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to step outside and relish in the serene tranquility."