USU Alumnus Astronaut Frank Rubio Takes First Walk in Space

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio performs preflight checkouts in the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. Rubio is scheduled to launch with crewmates Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin Sept. 21 for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

By Sharon Holland


Less than 60 days after launching into space on Sept. 21, 2022, Uniformed Services University alumnus, Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Frank Rubio, a NASA astronaut, has taken his first walk in space.  

NASA Portrait of astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio (Photo courtesy of NASA)
NASA Portrait of astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio
(Photo courtesy of NASA)
Rubio, a 2010 graduate of USU’s Hebert School of Medicine, spent more than seven hours tethered outside the International Space Station Nov. 15, alongside fellow astronaut Navy Capt. Josh Cassada, to assemble a mounting bracket on the starboard side of the station's truss assembly. It was also Cassada’s first spacewalk.

The astronauts left the confines of the Space Station around 9:14 a.m. EST to help prepare for the future deployment of additional Rollout Solar Arrays for the station. The ROSAs provide extra power to augment the existing Space Station power supply, which will allow the crew to conduct more state-of-the-art scientific research. Rubio and Cassada, who are part of NASA’s Expedition 68, routed cables and started installation of a scaffolding for the new solar panels, but were unable to complete all of their tasks. Instead, they were deferred to a future spacewalk that will take place before the additional solar arrays arrive. 

Rubio’s spacewalk was livestreamed through NASA’s social media channel, and was viewed by a number of USU community members.

"It was really exciting to watch Lt. Col. Rubio conduct his first spacewalk. I think it gives all of us here at USU an incredible sense of pride watching one of our own accomplish something so monumental. Think about it...since the start of the U.S. space program, there have only been 129 Americans who have walked in space, and two of them came from right here at USU -- Lt. Col. Rubio and Col. Morgan. That's really amazing," said Lisa McTigue, assistant to the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at USU. Army Col. (Dr.) Andrew Morgan, USU class of 2002, spent nine months on board the International Space Station in 2019-2020 and conducted seven spacewalks as part of the Expeditions 60 and 61 crew.

Rubio’s spacewalk was livestreamed through NASA’s social media channel, and was viewed by a number of USU community members.
Rubio's spacewalk was livestreamed through NASA's social media channel, and was viewed by a number of USU community members.

According to NASA, Rubio is part of a scientific mission that will “demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions; including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.”  He will spend a total of six months in space.

On Monday, Nov. 21, Rubio will join fellow astronaut, Marine Corps Col. Nicole Mann, for a question and answer downlink live from the Space Station with the USU community. The event, which takes place from 12:25-12:45 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live on NASA TV and NASA Live.  You can download the NASA TV app on your mobile device, or watch NASA TV on your computer at www.nasa.gov/nasatv or https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive, or check your TV listings for the NASA TV channel in your area.