In April, the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador announced that U.S. astronaut Francisco “Frank” Rubio, who is of Salvadoran descent, visited El Salvador.
During the week-long visit, Rubio spoke with leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to share his experiences and express gratitude for the support he received during his mission on the International Space Station.
Rubio also spoke about the influence of Salvadoran culture on his values, citing his mother’s teachings about hard work and dedication.
At a movie theater in San Salvador, Rubio and 300 people also watched NASA images from the International Space Station.
He shared insights about living in space for 371 days and answered questions about his future projects.
Rubio aimed to inspire Salvadoran children, youth, and adults, emphasizing that everyone is capable of achieving great things.
Rubio has had a remarkable career, serving as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and later as a battalion surgeon for the 3rd battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the U.S. Army.
In 2017, he was selected as a NASA astronaut.
Upon his return to Earth on September 27, 2023, after spending over a year in space, Rubio set a new record for the longest single flight by a U.S. astronaut.
His extended mission provided valuable data for scientists studying the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, essential for future NASA missions to the Moon and Mars.
Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space, congratulated Rubio and his team on their safe return, highlighting the significance of their mission in space exploration and research.
Rubio traveled over 157 million miles during his mission, facing challenges such as a coolant leak in the Soyuz MS-22 capsule, which required replacement with the Soyuz MS-23 launched in February 2023.