Russian Astronaut Makes History, Sets Record Today For Most Time Spent In Space
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko is poised to make history on Sunday by setting a new world record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, with nearly 2 and a half years under his belt, according to reports from Russian news agencies.
Kononenko to log an impressive 1,110 days in space??
Expected to surpass his compatriot Gennady Padalka's record, Kononenko, aged 59, will achieve this milestone at 11:30:08 Moscow time. Padalka accumulated a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds over five space flights before retiring in 2017, as reported by the state news agency TASS.
Kononenko, currently serving as the commander of the Russian space agency Roscosmos cosmonaut corps, is embarking on his fifth space flight. Upon completion of the ongoing expedition, slated for Sept. 23, Kononenko will have logged an impressive 1,110 days in space.
Inaugural space flight flew in 2008
At the age of 34, Kononenko began his training as part of the cosmonaut group selected for the International Space Station (ISS) program, as detailed on the European Space Agency's website. His inaugural spaceflight took place on April 8, 2008, as part of the 17th main expedition of the ISS, with a return to Earth on Oct. 24, 2008, according to the Interfax news agency.
Despite geopolitical tensions, the ISS remains a beacon of international cooperation, particularly between the United States and Russia. In December, Roscosmos announced an extension of the joint space program with NASA to the ISS until 2025.
While diplomatic relations between the two nations have soured following Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, cooperation in space exploration continues, albeit against a backdrop of strained relations.
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