Russia's official space agency announced that cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record with his space travel. By spending more than 878 days in orbit, Kononenko achieved the record for the longest total time spent in space, surpassing the previous record held by his compatriot Gennady Padalka.
Kononenko, who is expected to reach a total of one thousand days in space on June 5, said in an interview while orbiting at an altitude of approximately 423 kilometers on the International Space Station (ISS), "I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records." While stating that he is proud of all his achievements, Kononenko added that he is particularly proud that the record for the longest total time spent in space still belongs to a Russian cosmonaut.
The 59-year-old cosmonaut took the top spot after Padalka with a total time of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds. Russia, which achieved significant successes in the early years of the Soviet Union's space race, continues to maintain its leadership in this field.
Describing his life in space by saying, "I do not feel deprived or isolated," Kononenko noted that when he returned home, he realized his children had grown up without a father. Although cosmonauts can communicate with their families thanks to technological advancements, he points out that it is becoming increasingly difficult to prepare for this communication with every new space flight.
Sharing that he dreamed of going to space as a child before receiving cosmonaut training and that he enrolled in an engineering institute, Kononenko stated that he carried out his first space flight in 2008.
News Source: 12punto
