Frank Rubio will return to Earth aboard the Russian Soyuz MZ-23 spacecraft. Image: Fabrizio Oviedo/La Repubblica/NASA composition
Frank Rubioa NASA astronaut who was stranded on the plane International Space Station (ISS) Due to a malfunction in the vehicle that was supposed to bring it, it will finally return to Earth this time Wednesday 27 Septemberthe date on which it will fulfill 371 days in spacea Registration number No American has ever achieved it. Therefore, when he touches the surface again, Rubio will have completed the ball 5,963 revolutions around the planet And I walk More than 250 million kilometers.
As expectations are growing, the return of the Hispanic astronaut will be broadcast on the channel Official channel From YouTube a pot (on the cover of this note) from Tuesday 26 Septemberin 11.00 pm (local time in Peru). Rubio will travel with his Russian colleagues Sergei Prokopyev And Dmitry Petlinfrom Roscosmos, who were also in space for the same period of time.
The event will transmit images from the moment the spacecraft separated from the International Space Station until its landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. After that, Rubio will be transferred to Houston, United States, where he must regain his physical strength in a period ranging from 2 to 6 months.
Astronaut Frank Rubio returns to Earth: minute by minute
How long will it take for Frank Rubio to return to Earth?
According to NASA, the landing will take 3 hours and 23 minutes. The spacecraft is scheduled to disengage from the International Space Station at 2:54 am, while landing will take place at 6:17 am.
Soyuz MS-23 docking with the International Space Station
In February 2023, NASA and Roscosmos agreed to send a spacecraft to rescue Frank Rubio and his Russian colleagues stranded on the International Space Station. In the following video, you can see how the spacecraft, called Soyuz MS-23, docked with the Russian module of the space laboratory.
Credits: YouTube/Video from Space
Expedition 69, the current mission on the International Space Station
the Mission 69 It is the current long-duration mission to the International Space Station. It consists of 7 members of the permanent crew: Americans Frank Rubio, Stephen Bowen, and Warren Hoburg; The Russians Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petlin, Andrei Fedyaev, and the Arab Sultan Al-Niyadi.
Rubio, Prokopyev, and Petilin were part of Expedition 68, but were stranded in the laboratory due to a malfunction in their ship. The other members then traveled on a SpaceX capsule.
What’s it like to live on the International Space Station?
According to Frank Rubio on the Spanish podcast “NASA’s Strange Universe“, on the International Space Station “You have to learn to hold your feet so you can work with your hands and every movement you make with your hands pushes back. So, you have to learn how to use force against this movement.
“It’s like learning to ride a bike again, although after a few weeks you can do it normally,” he said. He then emphasized that the most complicated thing for him was “handling objects in space, because when you open a suitcase, everything flies away.” “”.
What is the longest time an astronaut has spent in space?
The world record holder for longest stay in space currently holds Valery Polyakova former astronaut who spent a total of… 438 days On the Mir space station.
What missions did Frank Rubio perform on the International Space Station?
While on the International Space Station, Rubio worked on techniques for growing tomatoes without the need for soil, studied how certain materials burn in a microgravity environment, and participated in an experiment looking at how lack of exercise in space affects crew health. Among other tasks.
Image: NASA
Why was Frank Rubio stranded on the International Space Station?
In September 2022, Frank Rubio traveled to the International Space Station on a 6-month mission, ending in March of this year.
But a meteor struck the unit that was to bring him back and caused a leak in the cooling system, forcing him and his colleagues to extend their stay.
Soyuz MS-23, rescue mission
Soyuz MS-23, the variant of MS-22, is a Russian ship sent in February 2023 to the International Space Station on a rescue mission.
The capsule traveled uncrewed and in automatic mode to transport 450 kilograms of equipment, including accessories and food, to the Russian module attached to the space laboratory.
Latest activities on the International Space Station before returning to Earth
“Last Monday, Frank Rubio started his day replacing clogged pumps at the biomanufacturing facility. He also moved on to collecting biological samples for food physiology research, which is testing whether improved diet helps astronauts better adapt to flight. Finally, Rubio continued Preparations for departure. Before his return trip to Earth,” a NASA statement said.
Who will travel with Frank Rubio?
Aboard the Soyuz MS-23 capsule, Rubio will be accompanied by astronauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petlin, who were stranded in space for the same period of time.
Image: NASA
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