An astronaut was left behind in space for 311 days all because his country ceased to exist while he was off the planet.
Sergei Krikalev was aboard the Mir space station for a staggering amount of time in 1991.
The cosmonaut embarked on what was supposed to be a five-month mission to the Soviet Union's Mir space station, per the Washington Post.
However, during his time in orbit, the Soviet Union dissolved, leaving him without a nation to return to.
The Soviet Union's collapse not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape but also had direct consequences for Krikalev's mission.
Boris Yeltsin became the president of the newly independent Russian Federation, and the spaceport and landing zones that Krikalev had planned to use were now located in Kazakhstan, which had declared its independence.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in economic turmoil, leaving little money available to bring Krikalev back to Earth.
At the same time, abandoning the space station without an operator would have risked its operation and repair in case of emergencies, further delaying Krikalev's return.
Reflecting on the events during a 2015 Q&A with The Guardian, Krikalev shared his initial reaction to the situation.
"It was a long process, and we were getting the news, not all at once, but we heard about the referendum, for example," he explained. "I was doing my job and was more worried about those on the ground—our families and friends—we had everything we needed!"
Despite the upheaval back on Earth, Krikalev remained focused on his duties aboard the space station.
Eventually, after months of uncertainty, international negotiations between the United States and Russia secured the funding needed to bring him home. Krikalev finally returned to Earth in March 1992, after spending an extraordinary 311 days in space.
Upon his return, Krikalev spoke of the mixed emotions he felt after such a long and unprecedented mission.
"I think I felt satisfaction that I had done my job, and done it well. The second one was a sort of relief as I had held a huge responsibility for many months," he said.
Speaking to NASA, it's evident that Krikalev didn't let the experience tarnish his experiences in Space.
"I think what we do in space together is a good example of how people need to live on the ground," he said.
Krikalev continued: "I know that people sometimes start to argue with no good reason; but especially when you are in a harsh environment, you rely on each other and try to help each other.
"That is how we live in space, and that probably can be a good example for people on the ground. We try to keep this area protected and keep this good example to politicians and maybe other people in my country and your country, showing that is really how we need to live."
