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 cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, who had an impressive 878 days in orbit, as announced by Russia’s space agency.

At 08:30 GMT, Kononenko officially broke the record. He is on track to reach a total of 1,000 days in space by June 5 and is projected to accumulate 1,110 days by late September.

"I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records," Kononenko shared in an interview from the International Space Station (ISS), located approximately 263 miles (423 km) above Earth. "I am proud of all my achievements, but my pride is greater knowing that the record for the total duration of human stay in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut."

The 59-year-old overtook Padalka, who had spent 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space.

The Soviet Union made a significant impact on the early space race, launching Sputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth, in 1957, and sending Yuri Gagarin into space as the first human in 1961. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia’s space program faced substantial financial challenges and issues of corruption.

Officials under President Vladimir Putin have repeatedly promised to revitalize Russia’s space initiatives, though serious challenges persist, according to various analysts and officials.

Life in Space

Kononenko emphasized the importance of regular workouts to combat the effects of weightlessness, stating that it is only after returning to Earth that he fully realizes the time lost with family. "I do not feel deprived or isolated," he remarked. "It is only upon returning home that I understand the children have grown without their father during my absence. No one can return that time to me."

He noted that while cosmonauts now have tools like video calls to stay connected with family, the increasing complexity of space missions makes preparation more challenging. "The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated," he explained. "The systems and experiments are becoming more complex, and the preparation has not become easier."

Kononenko’s dream of space travel began in his childhood, leading him to an engineering institute and ultimately to cosmonaut training. His first mission took place in 2008, and he launched on his current journey to the ISS last year aboard a Soyuz spacecraft.

The ISS serves as one of the few international collaborations between the United States and Russia, with an agreement for cross-flight operations extended until 2025. However, relations between the two nations have strained in other areas following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, prompting the U.S. to provide military support to Ukraine and enact a series of sanctions against Moscow.