Soviet cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev was in space when the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. Unable to return home, he ended up having to stay in space until further notice. 

The cosmonaut eventually returned back to earth on March 25, 1992, after 10 months in orbit - to a nation that was very different to what it was when he had left. The Soviet Union had fractured into 15 nations, presidents had changed, and even his hometown of Leningrad had become St. Petersburg.

Interestingly, at the time, Krikalev was supposed to serve in the military reserves, and was almost issued a warrant for desertion – before the army realized that their reserve soldier was not even on the planet.

Photo by Volkov (TASS)