What Happened to Francisco "Frank" Carlos Rubio?
Frank Rubio is a NASA astronaut and U.S. Army flight surgeon who gained international recognition for completing the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut, spending 371 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from 2022 to 2023. His mission was unexpectedly extended due to a coolant leak on his Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. As of August 2026, Rubio has been selected as a mission specialist for NASA's upcoming Artemis III mission, slated for launch in 2027, which will test systems for future lunar landings.
Quick Answer
Frank Rubio is a NASA astronaut who holds the American record for the longest single spaceflight, having spent 371 days on the International Space Station (ISS) from September 2022 to September 2023. His mission was unexpectedly extended by six months after his original Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft experienced a coolant leak, rendering it unsafe for return. Following his return to Earth, Rubio was selected in June 2026 as a mission specialist for NASA's Artemis III mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2027 and will serve as a low-Earth orbit demonstration for lunar landing systems.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Born in Los Angeles, California
Francisco 'Frank' Carlos Rubio was born in Los Angeles, California.
Graduated from West Point
Rubio earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Earned Medical Degree
He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, and became a surgeon with the 10th Special Forces Group.
Selected as NASA Astronaut
Frank Rubio was selected by NASA to join its astronaut candidate class.
Chosen for Artemis Program Astronaut Group
Rubio was among 18 astronauts chosen to be eligible for Artemis program missions, aiming to return Americans to the Moon.
Launched to International Space Station (ISS)
Rubio launched on his first spaceflight aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, alongside two Russian cosmonauts, for a planned six-month mission.
Soyuz MS-22 Coolant Leak Incident
The Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft experienced a significant coolant leak, rendering it unsafe for crew return and leading to the extension of Rubio's mission.
Soyuz MS-23 Launched as Replacement
An uncrewed Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was launched to the ISS to serve as the replacement return vehicle for Rubio and his crewmates.
Breaks U.S. Record for Longest Spaceflight
Rubio surpassed Mark Vande Hei's record, becoming the American with the longest single spaceflight at 355 days.
Returned to Earth after 371 Days
After 371 days, Frank Rubio and his crewmates landed safely in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-23, setting a new American record for single spaceflight duration.
Selected for Artemis III Mission
NASA announced Frank Rubio as a mission specialist for the Artemis III mission, which will test lunar landing systems in low-Earth orbit.
Artemis III Mission Launch
Rubio is slated to return to space as part of the Artemis III crew, which will orbit Earth to test equipment for future lunar landings.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Francisco "Frank" Carlos Rubio, born December 11, 1975, is a distinguished Salvadoran-American U.S. Army flight surgeon, aviator, and NASA astronaut. His career trajectory saw him graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1998, serve as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot with combat hours in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and earn a medical degree, becoming a surgeon with the 10th Special Forces Group. Rubio was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017.
Rubio embarked on his first spaceflight on September 21, 2022, launching aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, for what was intended to be a six-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS). However, a critical turning point occurred on December 14, 2022, when the Soyuz MS-22 capsule developed a significant coolant leak, suspected to be caused by a micrometeoroid impact. This incident rendered the spacecraft unsafe for crew return, necessitating an extension of the trio's stay on the ISS.
To facilitate their safe return, the Russian space agency Roscosmos launched an uncrewed Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in February 2023 to serve as their replacement ride home. This unforeseen circumstance extended Rubio's mission to an unprecedented 371 days, shattering the previous American record for the longest single spaceflight, which was 355 days held by Mark Vande Hei. During his extended stay, Rubio completed approximately 5,936 orbits of Earth, traveled over 157 million miles, and participated in numerous scientific investigations, including experiments on hydroponic tomato growth and 3D-printing knee cartilage. He also conducted three spacewalks totaling 21 hours and 24 minutes.
Rubio, along with his crewmates, safely landed in Kazakhstan on September 27, 2023. The extended mission provided invaluable data on the physiological and psychological effects of long-duration spaceflight, crucial for NASA's future deep-space exploration endeavors, including missions to the Moon and Mars.
In a significant development in June 2026, NASA announced Frank Rubio's selection as a mission specialist for the Artemis III mission. This mission, projected to launch in 2027, is a critical step in the Artemis program, designed to conduct low-Earth orbit demonstrations to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between the Orion spacecraft and commercial lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. This assignment places Rubio at the forefront of humanity's return to the lunar surface preparations, showcasing his continued dedication to space exploration.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Francisco "Frank" Carlos Rubio made different choices?