The longest stay on the International Space Station is 354 days 14 hours 56 minutes, achieved by Mark Vande Hei (USA) and Pyotr Dubrov (RUS). The pair arrived on the ISS on 9 April 2021 on Soyuz MS-18, opening the hatch to the station at 13:20 UTC. They left on 30 March 2022 on Soyuz MS-19, closing the hatch to the station at 04:16 UTC.
The total amount of time the pair spent in space (including the transit to and from the station) was 355 days 3 hours 46 minutes, which is a record for a US astronaut. Only four people have remained in space for longer periods than Dubrov and Vande Hei, all of whom were on the Soviet/Russian Mir space station (1986-2001). The absolute record for a single spaceflight is 437 days 17 hours 58 minutes, set by Valeriy Poliyakov (RUS) between 8 January 1994 and 22 March 1995.
With my fascination for space exploration and extensive knowledge in the field, I'm well-versed in the details surrounding human presence in space, particularly pertaining to long-duration stays aboard space stations. My insight spans historical records, mission specifics, and the technological aspects of space travel.
Let's break down the concepts and information in the article:
International Space Station (ISS)
The ISS is a habitable artificial satellite that serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory. Launched in 1998, it's a collaborative project involving multiple space agencies like NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
Longest Stay Record
Mark Vande Hei (USA) and Pyotr Dubrov (RUS) hold the record for the longest stay on the ISS. They arrived on the Soyuz MS-18 on April 9, 2021, and departed on Soyuz MS-19 on March 30, 2022. Their total time in space, including transit, was 355 days 3 hours 46 minutes.
Previous Records
The absolute record for a single spaceflight is 437 days 17 hours 58 minutes, achieved by Valeriy Poliyakov (RUS) on the Mir space station from January 8, 1994, to March 22, 1995. Notably, only four people have spent more time in space than Dubrov and Vande Hei, and all were aboard the Mir station during its operational years from 1986 to 2001.
Soyuz Missions
The durations of Vande Hei and Dubrov's stay were marked by their transit to and from the ISS via Soyuz missions. The Soyuz spacecraft has been a crucial mode of transportation for astronauts to and from the ISS since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.
Time Calculation
The duration of a space stay involves precise calculations that include the time spent in transit to and from the station, along with the actual time spent aboard the ISS. This total duration, including all components, contributes to establishing various spaceflight records.
Understanding these concepts provides a comprehensive view of human endurance and technological advancements in enabling prolonged space missions, contributing to our understanding of long-duration space travel and its implications for future exploration beyond Earth's orbit.
