Russian Cosmonaut Is New Record Holder For Most Time Spent In Space And He's Not Done Yet

A Russian cosmonaut just set the record for the most time in space – beating out another Russian who spent over 878 days in orbit. Oleg Kononenko set the record on February 4 at 0830 GMT, and he’s far from done.

I Need To Replace My BMW Convertible | WCSYB?

On June 5, he’s going to hit 1,000 days in space and by the end of September (when he’s still scheduled to be up there) Kononenko will clock over 1,110 days in space, according to Reuters. Right now, he’s been in space for nearly 2.5 years, and by the end of September, he’ll be over the three-year mark. Astonishing.

The 59-year-old took the top spot from Gennady Padalka, who had been floating around the Earth for 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 48 seconds, Reuters reports.

“I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not set records, Kononenko told a Rusia-owned media outlet from the International Space Station. “I am proud of all my achievements, but I am more proud that the record for the total duration of human stay in space is held by a Russian cosmonaut.”
Damn Russians.

Spending years in space can do a lot of damage to the human body because of the “insidious” physical effects of weightlessness, Konoenko told the outlet. Because of that, he has to work out regularly.

Konoenko also reflected on the mental toll of being hundreds of miles away from Earth. Here’s Reuters’ report:

“I do not feel deprived or isolated,” he said.

”It is only upon returning home that the realisation comes that for hundreds of days in my absence the children have been growing up without a papa. No one will return this time to me.”

He said cosmonauts could now use video calls and messaging to keep in touch with relatives but getting ready for each new space flight became more difficult due to technological advances.

”The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated. The systems and experiments are becoming more complicated. I repeat, the preparation has not become easier,” he said.

Kononenko had dreams of going to space as a child, according to Reuters. When he was older enough, he enrolled in an engineering institute before undergoing cosmonaut training. He’s been going up to space since 2008, and his current trip on the ISS launched in September of 2023.