Oleg Kononenko Sets World Record for the Longest Time in Space

Sophia Alicea
Staff Writer

On February 4, Oleg Kononenko, a 59-year-old Russian Cosmonaut, set the new world record for the longest cumulative time spent in space. Born on June 21, 1964, in Chardzhou, Turkmenistan, he joined the Russian space program and has participated in multiple space missions and made significant contributions to space exploration. According to The Guardian, Kononenko documented a remarkable 878 days and 12 hours in orbit. Kononenko is the commander of the Russian space agency, “Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corp”.

The International Astronautical Federation notes the Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corp as a branch of the Russian space agency from the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) — Yuri Gagarin, the first person to orbit the Earth, is honored by the center’s name.

According to The European Space Agency,  Kononenko was selected as a cosmonaut candidate in 1996. He completed his basic spaceflight training and became a cosmonaut in 1998. Kononenko has been a part of various space missions, including both short-duration and long-duration stays on the International Space Station (ISS). His missions have involved performing scientific experiments, conducting spacewalks, and contributing to the maintenance and operation of the ISS.

The ISS celebrated this record when the report was received by Kononenko. The ISS noted his celebration 263 miles away from the Earth’s atmosphere where he stated, “I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records,” in an interview from the ISS, according to Reuters. 

As Kononenko is on his fifth space expedition, he is on track to reach 1,000 days in space by June 5. His first expedition was in 2008, launching a career that has led to his current trip to the ISS, which began on September 15. He launched alongside NASA’s Laura Ohara and Ross Cosmos as well as fellow Russian Cosmonaut, Nikolai Chub in a joint collaboration with NASA and Roscosmos which would put him at 1,100 days in space in late September reports ​Times of India. 

Becoming the first person to achieve this accomplishment as well, Kononenko’s achievements are essential to the conduct of science in the special environment of space. The ISS is used for scientific research that sheds light on several scientific disciplines, including biology, medicine, and physics. Kononenko’s participation in these studies advances the discipline’s knowledge of how various processes are impacted by microgravity.

Kononenko’s contributions are not only measured by the advancements of science but also by the costs of being away from home. In an interview with Russian news agency, TASS, Kononenko stated, “It is only upon returning home that the realization comes that for hundreds of days in my absence, the children have been growing up without a papa”, which serves as a reminder that science comes at the cost of sacrifices that humans make for  the discipline.  

While Kononenko reflects on his incredible journey, the ISS remains a symbol of international cooperation between Russia and the United States’ dedication to science amidst tumultuous times. As reported by The Moscow Times, on December 28, Roscosmos announced the extension of a cross-flight program with NASA to the ISS until 2025. Emphasizing continued cooperation amidst the estranged relationship between the two nations since the creation of the ISS in 1998, following the Cold War’s “Space Race” between Russia and the U.S. as noted by NASA.