Mission Extended to 371 Days
After what was supposed to be a 180-day mission, astronaut Rubio has returned to Earth after spending an astonishing 371 days in space. This makes his mission over two weeks longer than Mark Vande Hei’s previous record.
Regrets and Reflections
In a recent press conference from the International Space Station (ISS), Rubio expressed his surprise at the extended duration of his mission. He admitted that had he known the length beforehand, he may have declined the opportunity due to family commitments. “If they had asked me upfront before you start training, I probably would’ve declined,” Rubio confessed. “That’s only because of family things that were going on this past year.”
Reflecting on the missed important events during his time in space, Rubio stated, “Had I known that I had to miss those very important events, I just would have had to say ‘thank you, but no thank you.’”
Safe Return to Earth
Rubio, along with cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, safely returned to Earth via a replacement Soyuz capsule that was launched in February. After being pulled from the capsule, Rubio, a 47-year-old Army doctor and helicopter pilot, expressed relief and joy, saying, “It’s good to be home.”
Russia Holds World Record
While Rubio’s 371-day mission is impressive, the world record for the longest time spent in space still belongs to Russia, with a mission lasting 437 days set in the mid-1990s.
This report includes contributions from Fox News’ Jon Michael Raasch and The Associated Press.