(KNSI) — A St. John’s University grad on the International Space Station may not have a ride home later this month.
Mark Vande Hei, who graduated from SJU in 1989, blasted off from the Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last April. He is set to return to earth after setting a record for most days in space on March 30th, but the head of the Russian Space Agency Dmitri Rogozin, said due to the U.S.’s tightening restrictions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, he is threatening to leave Vande Hei behind and detach Russia’s portion of the ISS altogether.
NASA hasn’t publicly commented on the situation.
Once he returns to earth, Vande Hei will be in space for 353 days, beating the old record of 340 days set by astronaut Mark Kelly.
KNSI recently had the opportunity to speak with Vande Hei. Hear that interview by clicking here.
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