Two Astronauts Stuck in Space: Longest NASA Space Stay Record Holder Offers Advice to Stay Positive

Two Astronauts Stuck in Space: Longest NASA Space Stay Record Holder Offers Advice to Stay PositiveAugust 30th Frank Rubio, NASA's astronaut with the longest space stay record, recently encouraged his two colleagues stranded on the International Space Station due to a mission extension. He advised them to maintain a positive mindset and "keep doing great work

Two Astronauts Stuck in Space: Longest NASA Space Stay Record Holder Offers Advice to Stay Positive

August 30th Frank Rubio, NASA's astronaut with the longest space stay record, recently encouraged his two colleagues stranded on the International Space Station due to a mission extension. He advised them to maintain a positive mindset and "keep doing great work."

Rubio knows firsthand the feeling of an unexpected mission extension. His mission on the ISS lasted over a year, doubling its original duration. Over the past two weeks, he has been supporting Williams and Wilmore, who are now facing an extended stay.

Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled to return to Earth via Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June. This was planned to be a week after the spacecraft's initial crewed test flight. However, following thorough testing and analysis of propulsion issues and a helium leak, NASA decided last weekend that it was safer to have SpaceX bring them back. This, however, won't happen until February, more than eight months after the Starliner launch.

"They've been doing a phenomenal job, keeping their spirits high, setting a great example, and getting a lot of extra work done on the space station," said Rubio at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. While an extended stay until next year wasn't "the ideal outcome," Rubio stated, "They've been incredibly resilient in the face of adversity." He also acknowledged that both astronauts' families, like his own, had to make sacrifices due to the schedule changes.

"One of the things we do is adapt and overcome, make the best of the situation," said Rubio. "They've done that, and I'm incredibly proud of them."

Since their only news conference on the ISS last month, Williams and Wilmore haven't publicly spoken about the Starliner predicament. At the time of the press conference, NASA hadn't decided to use SpaceX's Crew Dragon for their return, and they were planning to deorbit the Boeing spacecraft in early September.

Rubio's extended space mission was due to a collision with space debris that damaged the Soyuz spacecraft he was on, causing a coolant leak. To ensure a safe return for him and two Russian cosmonauts, a new Soyuz was hurriedly launched, and they returned to Earth in September last year. Rubio holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American, at 371 days.

Rubio's experience and advice will undoubtedly have a positive impact on Williams and Wilmore. Maintaining a positive mindset and optimism is crucial when facing unexpected events and schedule changes. Their story is also a reminder that unity, collaboration, and proactive responses are key to overcoming challenges. We believe that these astronauts will navigate this long space journey successfully and return to Earth safely.