Oleg Kononenko, a Russian cosmonaut, achieved a remarkable feat on Sunday by breaking the world record for the longest stay in space. According to the Russian space corporation, Kononenko has made history by surpassing his fellow countryman Gennady Padalka, who spent over 878 days in orbit.
Roscosmos reported that Kononenko broke the record at 8:30 in the morning. Kononenko is set to achieve the remarkable milestone of spending 1,000 days in space on June 5, with a projected total of 1,110 days by the end of September.
“I fly into space because it’s what I enjoy the most, not to set any records,” Kononenko shared with TASS during an interview from the International Space Station (ISS), which is currently orbiting approximately 423 kilometers away from Earth.
🛰 A Russian cosmonaut broke the world record for longest stay in space. Oleg Kononenko spent more than 878 days in orbit, Roscosmos said.
“Oleg Kononenko is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5, 2024 at 00:00:20 Moscow time,” says a statement published on… pic.twitter.com/92fznxb5Zw
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“I take great pride in all of my accomplishments, but what I am particularly proud of is that the record for the longest duration of a human stay in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut.”
According to Roscosmos, the 59-year-old astronaut claimed the top spot from Padalka, who had a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds.
Kononenko mentioned that he maintained a regular exercise routine to combat the physical impacts of weightlessness. However, it was only after he came back to Earth that he truly understood what he had been longing for.
It is only when I finally come back home that I realize how much the children have grown in the hundreds of days I have been away. They have been missing their dad. She lamented the fact that she could never regain this lost time.
🇷🇺👨🚀Hoy a las 11:30:08 hora de Moscú, el cosmonauta ruso, Oleg Kononenko, establece un récord mundial de tiempo en el espacio, alcanzando 878 días, 11 horas, 29 minutos y 48 segundos.
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Last month, the Institute of Nuclear Sciences of the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) celebrated the successful energization and operation of the Mexican Colmena mission. This mission consists of five microrobots that are currently functioning in deep space.
The institute believes that a significant majority of the objectives for the lunar mission have been achieved. Recent reports indicated that the Peregrine module may not have sufficient fuel to complete all the originally planned missions.
