Astronaut plans to return home scuppered as he becomes record-breaker

13 September 2023 , 22:12

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Frank Rubio has spent longer in space than any American on a single mission

A record-breaking NASA astronaut who has spent the longest-ever mission by an American astronaut was told his stay in orbit would be doubled.

Francisco Rubio's time of 357 days in space is the longest single spaceflight by an American. His mission is due to end when he touches down back to Earth in Kazakhstan this month and he will have completed an incredible but "pretty tough" 371 days above his home planet.

In an interview broadcast from the International Space Station, Rubio said he won't be able to see his wife and children until he is back in Houston, Texas after what was a "big year for us."

This was not the original plan as the mission was only supposed to last six months. It was extended when his crew's March-planned return home was delayed because of a coolant leak and it was feared the Soyuz MS-22 ferry ship would overheat when attempting re-entry.

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Rubio said he missed his family (AP)

The former US Army officer described the experience as an "incredible challenge" but in other ways "an incredible blessing."

Rubio added: "It was a pretty proud moment to see [my wife] and the kids thrive and overcome and I am sure they miss me but at the same time we all took on the challenge together. It was really neat to see them have a great attitude throughout the past year."

The previous record was held by astronaut Mark Vander Hei with 355 days, but it is still behind Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov's whopping 437-day mission that ended in 1995. Such a long time in orbit took its toll on Rubio.

The Soyuz MS-22 crew ship approaches the space station above the Mediterranean Sea (NASA/ZUMA Press Wire Service/REX/Shutterstock)

He had previously said it was "pretty tough... just because I was missing my family and I knew I was going to miss some pretty big milestones, for my kids." He added: "Birthdays, anniversaries, my son's going to head off to college this year, my oldest daughter is finishing up her first year of college. We've tried really hard to stay in touch with one another. ... My wife, my kids, they've been troopers, and they've really handled it incredibly well.

"And how well they've handled it has made it easier for me to just focus on work and make do with the hand we've been dealt."

Thankfully, the regular video calls come with a lighter side for Rubio and his family. "It was pretty cool to show them around," he said. "As you guys know once you are up here for a little bit you really get focussed on the work and sometime you forget to appreciate the fact that you are floating around and that you have this amazing view down below you."

Benjamin Lynch