Valeri Polyakov in 1995 set a record for living in space for the longest time, 439 days, in the Russian space station Mir. That record has now been broken several times. Cosmonauts and astronauts must adapt to living in space. For example, astronauts must learn to brush their teeth in a different way in space. Children can learn more about daily life in space at: Living in Space.
Shannon Lucid working out on a treadmill aboard Mir
Shannon Lucid, astronaut, returned to earth in 1996 after being in space 188 days. At the time she set the US record for longest time in space and the world record for the longest time for a woman in space. She conducted experiments aboard the Mir space station. She had previously flown on four other missions. Her record for an American woman was broken by Sunita Williams on June 16, 2007. Older children could learn more at: Shannon Lucid.