Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set a new world record for the most time spent in space on Sunday, surpassing 878 days, or nearly two and a half years. According to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, at 08:30 GMT, Kononenko surpassed the record set by his compatriot Gennady Padalka. Padalka had logged 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds during five spaceflights before his retirement in 2017.
Kononenko, who is currently 59 years old, broke the record during his fifth spaceflight when he was orbiting at a distance of 263 miles (423 km) from Earth. “I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records,” he told the Russian news agency Tass. “I’m proud of all my achievements, but I’m most proud that the record for total time spent in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut,” said Kononenko, who is the commander of Roscosmos.
Kononenko’s current mission is expected to conclude at the end of September, by which time he will have logged 1,110 days in space. He began his space career as an engineer and started training as a cosmonaut at the age of 34 after joining the group selected for the ISS program. His first spaceflight took place shortly thereafter in April 2008 and lasted for 200 days.
Kononenko told Tass that video calls and messages allowed him to maintain contact, but it wasn’t until he returned to Earth that he realized how much of life he had missed. “It’s only when you return home that you realize that for hundreds of days of my absence, my children were growing up without a father,” he said. “I won’t give that time to anyone.”
He also mentioned that he regularly exercises to counter the physical effects of the “insidious” lack of gravity. “I don’t feel deprived or isolated,” he said. Kononenko’s five spaceflights spanned 16 years, during which technological advancements made the preparation for each mission increasingly challenging. “The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more and more complicated. Systems and experiments are becoming more and more complex. I repeat, the preparation does not become easier.”
The International Space Station (ISS) is one of the few international projects in which Washington and Moscow continue to cooperate closely despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In December, Roscosmos announced that its collaboration program with NASA on the ISS has been extended until 2025.
The credibility of Russia’s space program, which was once a source of national pride, has been called into question in recent years. The Russian segment of the ISS has experienced three coolant leaks within a year, suggesting that the space industry is struggling to recover from years of underfunding, accidents, and corruption scandals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who set the world record for the most time spent in space?
A1: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set the world record for the most time spent in space.
Q2: How long was the previous record held by a Russian cosmonaut?
A2: The previous record held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka was 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds.
Q3: At what distance from Earth was Kononenko when he set the record?
A3: Kononenko was orbiting at a distance of 263 miles (423 km) from Earth when he set the record.
Q4: When did Kononenko start his space career?
A4: Kononenko started his space career as an engineer and began training as a cosmonaut at the age of 34 after joining the group selected for the ISS program.
Q5: How long was Kononenko’s first spaceflight?
A5: Kononenko’s first spaceflight lasted for 200 days.
Q6: How many spaceflights has Kononenko completed?
A6: Kononenko has completed five spaceflights.
Definitions:
1. Roscosmos – the Russian space agency.
2. GMT – Greenwich Mean Time, the global standard time based on the time zone in Greenwich, UK.
3. International Space Station (ISS) – a joint international project involving, among others, Russia and the United States.
The source of the article is from the blog crasel.tk