NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei returned to Earth Wednesday with two Russian cosmonauts after spending a US document 355 days in house.
Vande Hei, 55, and cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov departed the Worldwide House Station early Wednesday and touched down hours later in a distant space in Kazakhstan, NASA officers stated.
The trio landed in a Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft amid escalating tensions between the US and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, however NASA confirmed earlier this month the retired US Military colonel would have the ability to hitch a experience again to Earth within the Russian capsule.
“Stunning out right here,” Vande Hei stated after being the final one out of the spacecraft.
A group of NASA medical doctors and staffers had been on the website and deliberate to take Vande Hei to Houston after his yr in house. He and Dubrov launched final April, with Shkaplerov becoming a member of them on the ISS in October.
Vande Hei’s 355 days is the longest spaceflight by a US astronaut, eclipsing the earlier mark of 340 set by Mark Kelly in 2013. Dubrov additionally spent 355 days aboard the ISS.
Vande Hei stated he prevented the subject of Russia and Ukraine whereas in house together with his counterparts even earlier than the Feb. 24 invasion.
“I’m undecided we actually need to go there,” he stated.
Shkaplerov, for his half, stated Tuesday the trio didn’t have any points, House.com reported.
“Folks have issues on Earth,” Shkaplerov stated whereas formally shifting command of the house station to NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn. “On orbit we're one crew. I feel ISS is an emblem of the friendship and cooperation, like image of the long run exploration of house.”
Altogether, Vande Hei has spent 523 days in house as a NASA astronaut and traveled greater than 150 million miles in his record-setting jaunt — the equal of 312 journeys to the moon and again. He additionally circled the planet roughly 5,680 instances.
Whereas on the ISS, he targeted on scientific analysis, together with on vegetation and in bodily sciences, NASA stated.
“Mark’s mission will not be solely record-breaking, but in addition paving the best way for future human explorers on the moon, Mars, and past,” NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson stated in a press release. “NASA and the nation are proud to welcome Mark residence and grateful for his unbelievable contributions all through his year-long keep on the Worldwide House Station.”
Vande Hei, in the meantime, vowed to “get outdoors as a lot as potential” in a video posted from the ISS earlier this month.
“I’ve had an indoor job 24/7 for nearly a yr,” Vande Hei stated. “So I’m wanting ahead to being outdoors it doesn't matter what sort of climate.”
The all-time document for consecutive days in house belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, who spent 438 straight days throughout a mission from January 1994 to March 1995.
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