1995: Cosmonaut Valery Polyakov returns to Earth's gravity after a record-breaking journey of 437 days and 18 hours (often rounded to 438) aboard the Mir space station. A medical and human feat that remains, even today, the longest uninterrupted stay in space.

1997: Comet Hale-Bopp reaches its closest point to Earth. Truly the "Great Comet of 1997", it illuminated the night sky with exceptional brilliance, remaining visible to the naked eye for a record duration of 18 months.