Francisco Rubio (astronaut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Rubio
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Rubio in 2026
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Francisco Carlos Rubio
December 11, 1975 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, United States Army |
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Time in space
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370 days, 21 hours, 23 minutes |
| Selection | NASA Group 22 (2017) |
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Total EVAs
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3 |
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Total EVA time
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21 hours, 24 minutes |
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Mission insignia
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Frank Rubio, whose full name is Francisco "Frank" Carlos Rubio, was born on December 11, 1975. He is an American US Army doctor for pilots (called a flight surgeon), a skilled aviator (pilot), and a NASA astronaut.
Rubio holds the American record for the longest single spaceflight, having spent almost 371 days in space. In June 2026, he was announced as a mission specialist for the exciting Artemis III mission.
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Frank Rubio's Early Life and Schooling
Francisco Rubio was born in Los Angeles, California, to parents from El Salvador. He spent his first six years living in El Salvador. After that, his family moved to Miami, Florida, where he went to Miami Sunset Senior High School.
He later attended the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in international relations, which is about how different countries work together.
Frank Rubio's Military Service
After finishing at West Point, Rubio became an officer in the US Army. He became a pilot for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.
Rubio led groups of soldiers as a platoon leader and a company commander. As a pilot, he flew for over 1,100 hours. This included 600 hours during important missions in places like Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Later, Rubio went to medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He became a doctor, specializing in family medicine. He worked as a clinic supervisor and a doctor for pilots at Redstone Arsenal. Before he was chosen to be an astronaut, Rubio was the doctor for a special forces group at Fort Carson.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
In 2017, Frank Rubio was chosen to join NASA Astronaut Group 22, a special team of new astronauts. He then began two years of intense training to prepare for space missions.
His First Space Mission: Soyuz MS-22
On July 15, 2022, NASA announced that Rubio would travel to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft.
Rubio launched into space on September 21, 2022. He traveled with two Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin. His trip was originally planned to last about six months. However, something unexpected happened: the spacecraft was damaged. This meant his mission had to be extended.
He finally returned to Earth on September 27, 2023, using a different spacecraft, Soyuz MS-23. His time in space, 371 days, set a new American record for the longest single spaceflight! He broke the previous record held by astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei.
Joining the Artemis III Mission
On June 9, 2026, NASA announced that Frank Rubio was chosen as a mission specialist for the Artemis III mission. This mission aims to send astronauts to the Moon. He was selected alongside fellow NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Andre Douglas, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.
About Frank Rubio's Family
Frank Rubio is married to his wife, Deborah. They have four children together.
Awards and Achievements
Frank Rubio has received many important awards for his brave service in the military and his work as an astronaut.
These include medals like the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. He also earned the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.
He has also been awarded special badges that show his skills and training. These include the Senior Aviator Badge (for experienced pilots), the Flight Surgeon Badge (for doctors who work with pilots), the Parachutist Badge (for parachuting), and the Senior Space Badge (for astronauts).
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