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Extended Stays in Space

An illustrated render of Earth, the Moon, and the International Space Station is displayed with text reading "Extended Stays in Space" above Earth and the space station. Earth is to the bottom left of the image, with a red line and the space station going around it, to display a trajectory path. Earth's Moon is in the top right corner of the image, with space and stars in the background.

NASA Station AstronAut Record Holders

Frank Rubio portrait

Frank Rubio

371 days in space

Official astronaut portrait of Expedition 51/52 crew member Mark Vande Hei

Mark Vande Hei

355 days in space

Scott Kelly

340 days in space

Christina Hammock Koch NASA Astronaut

Christina Koch

328 days in space

Peggy Whitson

289 days in space

Key Messages

Frank Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Scott Kelly, Christina Koch, and Peggy Whitson have spent an extended amount of time in space, helping to pave the way for even longer, future exploration missions. Their missions help researchers better understand how the human body adapts to the extreme environment of space for more distant missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

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(From left) Frank Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Scott Kelly, Christina Koch, and Peggy Whitson are pictured in a composite image. All five NASA astronauts have spent an extended amount of time in space.
NASA

The Science Behind Extended Missions

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4 min read

Astronaut’s Record-Setting Mission Helps NASA Plan Deep Space Journeys

Article
5 min read

Spaceflight Standard Measures: Characterizing How Humans Adapt in Space

Article
4 min read

Record-Breaking NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei’s Contributions to Human Research Studies
Featured Story

Experiments to Unlock How Human Bodies React to Long Space Journeys

Through Artemis, NASA astronauts are returning to the Moon in preparation for one day going to Mars. To better prepare astronauts…

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Twins Study

The landmark Twins Study brought ten research teams around the country together to observe what physiological, molecular, and cognitive changes could happen to a human from exposure to spaceflight. This was accomplished by comparing retired astronaut Scott Kelly while he was in space, to his identical twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth.

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identical twin astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly
NASA

Astronaut Health and Training

The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space and a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth. NASA and its international partners have maintained a continuous human presence aboard the space station for more than 24 years, conducting research that is not possible on Earth.

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NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Nick Hague pedals on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS), an exercise cycle located aboard the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. CEVIS provides aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning through recumbent (leaning back position) or upright cycling activities.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Nick Hague pedals on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS), an exercise cycle located aboard the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module. CEVIS provides aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning through recumbent (leaning back position) or upright cycling activities.
NASA
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