Astronaut Shares Emotional Return After 311 Days in Space

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev spent 311 days aboard the Mir space station, initially planned as a five-month mission, due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which left him without a country to return to. Financial constraints in newly independent Kazakhstan delayed his return. Upon his return to Earth on March 25, 1992, Krikalev expressed satisfaction and relief for fulfilling his responsibilities despite the extended mission. He reflected on the unity of humanity, noting that Earth's divisions are often artificial.