NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, 47, broke the record of the longest space flight for an American astronaut on Wednesday, with a record 371 continuous days spent in space, according to the AP.
While an astounding feat, the world record remains to be broken, as a Russian space flight during the mid-1990s lasted 437 days. The previous U.S. record holder, Mark Vande Hei, spent only 355 continuous days in space. Rubio was able to surpass the year mark, but not by choice.
According to the AP, Rubio and his team of two Russian astronauts got stuck at the International Space Station after their capsule was hit by space debris and developed a coolant leak. Their original flight was supposed to last only 180 days.
According to Vahe Peroomian, a professor of physics at USC, Rubio’s flight was a “step in the right direction.”
“NASA is planning to send more astronauts to the moon for longer periods of time as part of their Artemis missions,” Peroomian said. “During these missions, astronauts will be on flights that are 13 to 26 months in length.”
Being in space for such long periods has an immense effect on the human body, causing muscle atrophy and loss of bone density, Peroomian said. Rubio experienced these effects, as when he first arrived back on Earth, he couldn’t walk.
“Knowing how astronauts respond after spending a year in space is very valuable, not just for the zero gravity environment, but also for how their body reacts to being in a high radiation environment,” said Peroomian.
Despite the negative health effects, Rubio’s extended stay allowed him to go down in the history books as not only the U.S. space endurance record breaker, but as the first Salvadoran astronaut to travel to space.
While just now making national headlines, Rubio has had a noteworthy career ever since college. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. He flew over 1,000 hours in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, many of which were during combat and imminent danger, according to NASA.
He then went on to earn a Doctorate of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Maryland, becoming a board-certified family physician and flight surgeon. After completing medical school, Rubio joined the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.
Rubio’s career in military service, medicine and space exploration has made him a pillar of excellence in the Salvadoran community, and an idol for many young children and adults hoping to one day have a career in STEM. Gian Marco Velasquez, a Salvadoran journalism student, said, “especially as a Salvadorian… it’s so empowering to see people like me succeeding in fields that typically you don’t see us.”
Hispanic and Latine individuals have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields and careers. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, “Hispanic adults make up 17% of the U.S. workforce but just 8% of those working in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) job.”
Not only is there a deficit between population and representation in STEM fields, but this deficit also exists in mainstream media. Rebecca Sanchez, a Salvadoran digital media major, said, “what [Rubio’s] been doing is a great representation that a lot of…Salvadoran Americans are very knowledgeable and educated and that’s like, not something that the media shows.”
Even at USC there is limited to no representation for Salvadoran Americans, according to Sanchez. There aren’t any clubs or organizations at the university that uplift Salvadoran culture, and most STEM students are Mexican, Cuban, or Puerto Rican, not Salvadoran.
As a Salvadoran American student, she feels the university needs to “learn more about [Salvadoran] culture” and “make a community” in which students such as her feel welcomed, said Sanchez.
Salvadoran students at the university feel an overwhelming sense of pride and are inspired by what Rubio has accomplished. “It’s really beautiful to see our people…prevailing and doing things that are just so great for our community and for the world,” said Velasquez.
“Seeing that he was able to do it regardless of how much sacrifice… it’s gonna be a really great push and inspiration for… the younger generations to come in STEM, to follow their dreams, no matter how long it’s gonna take them to achieve it, it’s possible,” Sanchez said.