Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the total time spent in space, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The 59-year-old has already spent over 878 days and 12 hours in space, surpassing the previous record set by his Russian colleague Gennady Padalka in 2015, which was 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds.
Kononenko has completed five trips to the International Space Station (ISS) dating back to 2008. Speaking to the Russian news agency TASS, the engineer said that each visit to the ISS required careful preparation due to the constant upgrades to the station, but being a cosmonaut has been a realization of his childhood dream.
“I go to space to do what I love, not to break records. I dreamed and aspired to become a cosmonaut since childhood. This passion – the opportunity to fly in space, live and work in orbit – motivates me to continue the flights,” Kononenko told TASS.
Kononenko’s current journey to the ISS began on September 15, 2023, when he launched alongside American astronaut Loral O’Hara and Russian colleague Nikolay Chub. By the end of this expedition, the cosmonaut is set to become the first person to have spent a total of 1,000 days in space.
The International Space Station is one of the few areas where the United States and Russia continue to collaborate closely following the Moscow invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Roscosmos announced in December that its program with NASA for transporting astronauts to the ISS has been extended until 2025.
FAQ:
1. Who broke the world record for the total time spent in space?
– Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko broke the world record.
2. How much time has Oleg Kononenko spent in space?
– Oleg Kononenko has already spent over 878 days and 12 hours in space.
3. Who held the previous record?
– The previous record belonged to Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka.
4. How long did the previous record last?
– The previous record lasted 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds.
5. How many trips to the International Space Station has Oleg Kononenko completed?
– Oleg Kononenko has completed five trips to the International Space Station.
6. When did Oleg Kononenko’s current journey to the ISS begin?
– Oleg Kononenko’s current journey to the ISS began on September 15, 2023.
7. Who did Oleg Kononenko launch with on his current journey to the ISS?
– Oleg Kononenko launched with American astronaut Loral O’Hara and Russian colleague Nikolay Chub on his current journey to the ISS.
8. Which program with NASA has been extended until 2025?
– Roscosmos’ program with NASA for transporting astronauts to the ISS has been extended until 2025.
Definitions:
– ISS: International Space Station – a joint international project involving many countries aimed at conducting scientific research in space.
Links:
– Roscosmos – official website
– NASA – official website
The source of the article is from the blog meltyfan.es