NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei will remain on the International Space Station up until March, giving him a record-setting spaceflight.The objective extension, which was predicted prior to Vande Heis abrupt launch in April, will see the veteran astronaut invest about 353 days living and working on the orbiting laboratory, according to a tweet the astronaut posted on Tuesday (Sept. 14). That will break the existing record for longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut: 340 days, currently held by Scott Kelly. ” Honestly, its interesting,” Vande Hei said in a video clip filmed on the spaceport station.” I think all astronauts are explorers at heart,” he included. “Im looking forward to, as a person, understanding how it feels to do something like this.” Related: The most extreme human spaceflight recordsRead more: NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei could invest a year in spaceNASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei as seen on the International Space Station in June 2021. (Image credit: NASA) In the video, Vande Hei discusses that he sees the prolonged stay as a vital method for scientists to start to understand how the body endures the long spaceflights that will be needed to go to deep-space locations like Mars.Typically, space station visits last about six and a half months; a big salami to Mars would likely take more like 2 years, according to NASA.” Thank you, Mark, for your commitment to @NASA and research that will prepare mankind for Artemis missions to the moon and later to Mars!” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson composed in a tweet congratulating the astronaut on his mission extension.The announcement comes three weeks after NASA delayed a spacewalk due to a medical concern, which was later on exposed to be a pinched nerve in Vande Heis neck. Vande Hei, who was originally set up to sign up with the sortie, was replaced by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide; Vande Hei supported the activity from inside the area station.The objective extension isnt a surprise, nevertheless, as Vande Hei made clear during his video remarks. “My familys been braced for this, Ive been braced for this, its something that we expected,” he said, keeping in mind that he is speaking and meditating every day with his household practically every day in order to manage the seclusion that features long-duration spaceflight.Related: How NASA reserved a last-minute journey to space on a Russian SoyuzThe extended stay is possible since of a brief flight that NASAs Russian equivalent, Roscosmos, is releasing next month. On Oct. 5, a veteran cosmonaut, an actor and a director will climb up aboard a Soyuz capsule in order to spend about two weeks on the orbiting lab filming a movie dubbed “Challenge.” Those two travelers will in impact fill Vande Heis seat, in addition to that of his Russian crewmate, Pyotr Dubrov, who will also remain in orbit up until March.The “Challenge” flight has remained in the books because prior to Vande Hei openly got his seat project. NASA, worried by hold-ups in Boeings distressed Starliner crew pill program, organized to include Vande Hei to the Soyuz car that introduced in April, announcing the flight simply a month prior to launch.Although the objective extension will see Vande Hei dive to the lead of NASAs long-duration flight veterans, the astronaut said that the record isnt about him and he does not expect to rest on the laurels it might bring him.” I dont believe its a record that I would even credit to me, its a record that I would credit to our area program,” Vande Hei stated. “I expect this record to be broken, and that will be an additional success for our area program.” Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei will remain on the International Space Station until March, providing him a record-setting spaceflight.The objective extension, which was anticipated before Vande Heis abrupt launch in April, will see the veteran astronaut spend about 353 days living and working on the orbiting laboratory, according to a tweet the astronaut published on Tuesday (Sept. 14).” Related: The most extreme human spaceflight recordsRead more: NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei might invest a year in spaceNASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei as seen on the International Space Station in June 2021. Vande Hei, who was initially set up to sign up with the sortie, was replaced by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide; Vande Hei supported the activity from inside the area station.The objective extension isnt a surprise, however, as Vande Hei made clear during his video remarks.