Oleg Kononenko, a Russian cosmonaut, recently made history by breaking the world record for the longest time spent in space, surpassing his fellow Russian astronaut Gennady Padalka. According to Russia’s space corporation, Roscosmos, Kononenko achieved this milestone at 0830 GMT. He is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5th and accumulate 1,110 days by late September.
Speaking from the International Space Station (ISS), where he is currently orbiting approximately 263 miles from Earth, Kononenko shared his passion for space exploration rather than setting records. He stated, “I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records.” However, he expressed pride in his achievements and emphasized that the record for the longest duration of human stay in space still belongs to a Russian cosmonaut.
The 59-year-old cosmonaut surpassed Padalka, who previously held the record with a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space. This accomplishment highlights Russia’s significant contribution to space exploration since the early years of the space race. The achievements of the Soviet Union, including the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and Yuri Gagarin becoming the first man to travel into space in 1961, have left a lasting impact.
Despite funding shortages and corruption issues in Russia’s space program following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, President Vladimir Putin’s administration has made efforts to revive and improve the country’s space programs. However, challenges still persist, as acknowledged by officials and space analysts.
Kononenko discussed the rigorous physical training required to counter the effects of weightlessness in space. He also reflected on the sacrifices he has made, mentioning the realization that he has missed out on precious moments with his family while being in space for extended periods. The cosmonaut emphasized the complexity of the profession, with advancements in technology making each new space flight more demanding.
Currently, the ISS stands as an outstanding example of international collaboration between the United States and Russia, despite strained relations in other areas. A recent announcement by Roscosmos revealed that the cross-flight program with NASA to the ISS has been extended until 2025, demonstrating the enduring partnership in space exploration.
The source of the article is from the blog yanoticias.es