Cosmonaut sets new record for longest time spent in space
- Oleg Kononenko beat the previous record by one day
- So far, he’s spent 879 days in space over the course of five missions
- And the best part is: his mission is not over yet
Published on Feb 06, 2024 at 6:26 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 07, 2024 at 8:19 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
A Russian cosmonaut named Oleg Kononenko just set a new record for the longest time spent in space.
And he’s not done yet, because by the time his mission is over, his record will likely become unbeatable.
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Oleg Kononenko has spent a grand total of 879 days in space, which means he’s just beaten the previous record set by fellow Russian astronaut Gennady Padalka by about half a day.
For reference, Padalka spent 878 days, 11 hours and 29 minutes in space.
Both Padalka and Kononenko achieved their respective record over the course of five missions.
However, the key factor here is that Kononenko’s current mission is still ongoing, and the 59-year-old astronaut is scheduled to remain on the International Space Station (ISS) until September 23.
On that date, as he sets foot back on Earth, he’ll have spent 1,110 days in space in total.
That’s the equivalent of around 2.5 years.
Pictured below, Oleg Kononenko (left, 879 days in space) and Gennady Padalka (right, 878 days in space)
In an interview with Russian news agency, TASS, reported by Reuters, Kononenko said he doesn’t care about records.
“I fly into space to do my favorite thing, not to set records,” Kononenko said.
“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.”
Several astronauts spent a significant amount of time in space, giving us a pretty clear idea of what happens when you spend so much time away from Earth’s gravity.
Pictured below, Frank Rubio (left, 371 days in space) and Mark Vande Hei (right, 355 days in space)
In a nutshell, gravity is the key to everything.
It is the reason why cosmonauts tend to lose bone density and muscle mass, and it also explains why and how their blood cells diminish.
Upon their return to Earth, cosmonauts who’ve spent months in space find it difficult to stand properly or walk.
Most of these issues are ‘reversible’, and the body simply re-adapts itself to Earth.
But it takes time.
This varies a lot because each individual is different, but scientists agree that, on average, once astronauts return to Earth, it generally takes one day for every day spent in space for the body to fully readjust.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
