Frank Rubio He is the Latino astronaut who has spent the longest time in outer space. she came to the NASA International Space Station (ISS) on September 21, 2022 and until now it remains in Earth’s orbit. This June 12, 2023, he was the protagonist of an unprecedented video call that was made from the ship, with a group of Hispanic children.
Specifically (and it continues to count) there are 264 days that Frank Rubio has remained in space. He came to NASA’s ISS after arduous training, to study the flammability of materials in microgravity, demonstrate technology for small robotic repair satellites, and capture images of Earth requested by a group of students.
Frank’s time in space, of Salvadoran parents, was extended due to the fact that the ship in which he traveled, the Soyuz MS-22, suffered a refrigerant leak due to the impact of a micrometeorite. So, in this extended accommodation he has continued to work on his missions to try to achieve better results in his analyses.
That also gave him time to share his experience with a group of Hispanic children, as part of an initiative of the Ibero-American Scientific and Cultural News (NCC), the Association of Ibero-American Educational and Cultural Televisions (ATEI) and NASA.
The unprecedented chat by video call from space
Suspended in the air by microgravity and wearing the distinctive uniform of the interior of the ISS, Frank Rubio thrilled children who watched from an auditorium and thousands of people who connected to the live webcast.
“I’m excited to know that all these young people are going to move on, the future of our community is in good hands, all these young people are going to do much bigger things than us and for me that’s incredible,” Frank said amid emotional applause. of the little ones who see in this astronaut, a hero.
“I am excited to know that all these young people are going to move forward, the future of our community is in good hands, all these young people are going to do much bigger things than us and for me that is incredible,” said Frank Rubio in #IberoaméricaenÓrbita. 🚀💫 pic.twitter.com/kUuAmdD2S7
— ATEI (@ATEIberoamerica) June 12, 2023
The 264 days in space is a topic of focus for Frank Rubio and for NASA, because it is possible for the time to double and inadvertently break the record of an astronaut outside of Earth.
On this, Rubio says that “the priority is to follow the mission, you don’t know what will happen, and if it passes the entire NASA team will share this great achievement.”
How do you feel about breaking the record as the astronaut with the longest time in space? 🚀
“The priority is to continue the mission, you don’t know what is going to happen, and if it passes, the entire NASA team will share this great achievement.”
Frank Rubio in #IberoaméricaenÓrbita. 💫 pic.twitter.com/RdjtcaDoGU
— ATEI (@ATEIberoamerica) June 12, 2023