ALBAWABA Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has achieved a historic milestone by breaking the world record for the most cumulative time spent in space. Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, officially reported on Sunday that the 59-year-old cosmonaut has now spent more than 878 days and 12 hours in space, surpassing the previous record set by fellow Russian Gennady Padalka in 2015.
Kononenko's remarkable feat comes after completing five journeys to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2008. With his current expedition, he is poised to become the first person to accumulate 1,000 days in space by the end of the mission.
The International Space Station, a symbol of international collaboration, has served as a platform for scientific research and cooperation between nations, even amid geopolitical tensions.
The close partnership between the United States and Russia in space exploration continues to endure, as exemplified by the extended cross-flight program with NASA transporting astronauts to the ISS until 2025, as announced by Roscosmos in December.
In an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS, Kononenko expressed his passion for space exploration, emphasizing that his primary motivation was not to set records but to fulfill a childhood dream. "
I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records. I've dreamt of and aspired to become a cosmonaut since I was a child.
That interest—the opportunity to fly into space, to live and work in orbit—motivates me to continue flying," he stated.
Kononenko's current mission to the ISS commenced on September 15, 2023, when he launched alongside NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos compatriot Nikolai Chub.
The veteran cosmonaut highlighted the meticulous preparation required for each trip due to the constant upgrades and advancements in the station's technology.
