This week, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio sets American record for longest space flight
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has made headlines this week by setting an American record for the longest continuous space flight, spending a staggering 371 days in orbit. Originally planning to spend only six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Rubio found himself trapped alongside his two Russian crewmates after their ship was damaged by space debris. Despite this unexpected extension, Rubio made the most of his time on board, orbiting the planet 5,936 times and covering the equivalent of 328 trips to the moon. However, it’s worth noting that Rubio’s accomplishment does not break the world record for the longest space flight. In this article, MailOnline explores the previous missions that have seen brave astronauts spend even longer in orbit.
Valeri Polyakov: Record Holder for Longest Continuous Space Flight
The record for the longest continuous space flight is still held by Valeri Polyakov, who lived aboard the Mir space station from January 8th, 1994 to March 22nd, 1995. Polyakov spent a total of 437 days, 17 hours, and 38 minutes in space, during which he traveled nearly 187 million miles and completed 7,075 orbits around the Earth. Polyakov’s landing back on Earth was quite remarkable, as he refused to be carried out of the capsule like most astronauts. Instead, he climbed out himself, walked to a nearby chair, and smoked a cigarette that he had pilfered from a friend. This act symbolized humans’ ability to function after long space journeys, even on a planet like Mars.
Frank Rubio’s Place in the Record Books
While Frank Rubio has set an American record for the longest continuous space flight, his accomplishment is actually the third longest in history. The top two spots are held by Russian cosmonauts, with Valeri Polyakov still reigning as the record holder. Rubio’s accidental extension is a testament to the unpredictable nature of space exploration and the challenges that astronauts face. However, it’s important to recognize the achievements of those who have spent even longer in orbit.
Furthest Distance Traveled from Earth
In 1970, NASA’s Apollo 13 mission set the record for the furthest distance traveled by a human away from Earth. NASA astronauts James Lovell, Fred Haise, and John Swigert reached a distance of 248,655 miles (400,171km) from Earth as they passed over the dark side of the Moon. Although this mission didn’t go according to plan due to an oxygen tank explosion, the crew successfully used the Moon’s gravitational pull to slingshot themselves back to Earth. NASA has plans to beat this record with the Artemis Orion capsule, which recently completed a test flight 270,000 miles from Earth in preparation for a return trip to the Moon.
Voyager-1: The Most Distant Object from Earth
The Voyager-1 probe, launched by NASA in 1977, currently holds the record for the most distant object from Earth. It is currently 15 billion miles away and traveling at a speed of 38,026 mph. Voyager-1 provided humanity with invaluable information about Jupiter and Saturn and became the first human-made object to leave our solar system in 2013. Despite NASA’s plans to shut down Voyager-1’s systems by 2030, the probe will continue drifting further into space, carrying records of sounds and images from Earth in case it encounters extraterrestrial life on its long journey.
Why Long-Term Space Missions Are Limited
While Rubio’s accidental extended stay sets an American record, it is worth noting that missions conducted by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) typically don’t exceed six months. Russian Roscosmos does send its cosmonauts on missions up to a year, but astronauts from any country are far from surpassing Polyakov’s record. The reason for this limit, according to ESA’s life-sciences coordinator Inês Antunes, is that space is simply not conducive to our health. Microgravity, isolation, and radiation all pose significant risks to astronauts’ health. Microgravity causes muscle and bone weakness, isolation leads to stress and strain on the body and mind, and radiation presents a constant threat. The adverse effects of these conditions have yet to be fully understood, making long-term space missions a risky endeavor.
Scott Kelly’s DNA Changing in Space
Scott Kelly, an American astronaut who spent 340 days aboard the International Space Station, had his DNA studied by NASA to understand the impact of long-term spaceflight. Through a comparison with his identical twin brother Mark, who remained on Earth, scientists found that living in space had caused temporary changes in Scott Kelly’s body. He returned to Earth taller by 5 cm (2 inches), due to the microgravity conditions on the ISS elongating his spine. Although most of his genes returned to normal shortly after returning home, about 7% of his genes were permanently altered. These changes affected gene-related factors such as the immune system, DNA repair, bone formation, and oxygen and carbon dioxide uptake by the tissues. Despite these changes, most of which seemingly resolved themselves, the adverse effects of long-term space travel remain a concern.
Overall, while Frank Rubio’s record-setting spaceflight is commendable, it serves as a reminder of the remarkable achievements of astronauts like Valeri Polyakov and the challenges that come with extended time in space. As we continue to push the boundaries of space exploration, understanding the impacts on human health will be crucial for future missions.
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