30 Years Ago, American Astronaut Finally Returned to Earth After Unexpected Rocket Repairs Kept Her in Space for 6 Months

Astronaut Shannon Lucid in 1978. Credit: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty NEED TO KNOW In 1996, American astronaut and biochemist Shannon Lucid spent 188 days aboard Russia's Mir space station

Her return was delayed by six weeks after shuttle repairs and a hurricane caused an extended stay in orbit

In the end, the experience shaped NASA's approach to preparing astronauts for long-duration missions

Thirty years ago, American astronaut Shannon Lucid returned to Earth after 188 days aboard the Russian space station Mir, closing out a mission that lasted much longer than originally planned.

A biochemist and one of NASA's first six female astronauts, Lucid spent six months conducting experiments and living alongside Russian cosmonauts Yuri Onufriyenko and Yuri Usachev. Her extended stay set a new American record for time spent on a single spaceflight and a world record for a woman.