Russian Cosmonaut Breaks Record for Most Time Spent in Space

By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW – Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has set a new world record for the total time spent in space, surpassing the previous record held by fellow Russian Gennady Padalka, who accumulated over 878 days in orbit, according to Russia’s space agency.

At 08:30 GMT on Sunday, Kononenko officially broke the record. He is expected to reach 1,000 days in space by June 5, and by late September, his total may reach 1,110 days.

"I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records," Kononenko said in an interview from the International Space Station (ISS), situated approximately 263 miles (423 km) above Earth. "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 still held by a Russian cosmonaut."

Now 59, Kononenko took the record from Padalka, who logged a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds.

The Soviet Union had a significant influence on the early years of the space race, famously launching the first satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, followed by Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in 1961. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia’s space program faced severe funding shortages and issues with corruption.

Under President Vladimir Putin, there have been repeated promises to revive the nation’s space initiatives, although challenges still persist, according to officials and analysts in the space sector.

LIFE IN SPACE

Kononenko noted that he maintains a rigorous workout routine to combat the effects of weightlessness, but he has come to realize the moments he has missed at home during his long absences.

"I do not feel deprived or isolated,” he shared. “It is only upon returning home that the realization hits that for hundreds of days, my children have been growing up without me. No one can return that time to me."

He mentioned that cosmonauts can now communicate with family through video calls and messaging, but preparing for new missions has become increasingly complex due to advancements in technology.

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

Kononenko dreamed of space travel as a child, which led him to pursue an engineering degree before entering cosmonaut training. His first space mission took place in 2008, and his current journey to the ISS commenced last year.

The ISS remains one of the few cooperative international ventures between the United States and Russia. In December, Russia’s space agency announced that its cross-flight program with NASA to the ISS has been extended until 2025.

However, relations in other sectors between the two nations have deteriorated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, prompting Washington to respond with military support for Kyiv and ongoing sanctions against Moscow.