Russian Cosmonaut Breaks World Record for Longest Time Spent in Space

Roscosmos has officially announced that Oleg Kononenko, a cosmonaut from Russia, has surpassed all other human beings in terms of time spent in space. As of 4 February 2024, at 08:30:08 UTC, Kononenko had accumulated over 878 days aboard the International Space Station, and this number continues to increase as he completes multiple missions since 2008.

Previously, the record was held by another Russian cosmonaut, Gennady Padalka, who spent a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space during five missions from 1998 to 2015.

Currently on his fifth mission, Kononenko arrived at the space station in September 2023 and will remain there until September 2024. By the time he completes his stint, he will have an astonishing total of 1,110 days in space, making him the first human to reach the milestone of 1,000 days.

When asked about his achievement, Kononenko humbly stated, “I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records. While I am proud of all my accomplishments, I am even prouder that a Russian cosmonaut still holds the record for the longest duration spent by a human in space.”

The toll that the achievement takes on the astronaut is one of the reasons why it is so impressive. The typical duration of an ISS flight is approximately six months, and the physical effects experienced by the astronauts are quite intense. While most of these effects, such as the redistribution of fluid in a weightless environment, return to normal upon returning to Earth, there are some that take a bit longer.

One of the most notable effects is the loss of bone density and muscle atrophy. During their time in space, humans experience a loss of around 1 to 1.5 percent of their mineral bone density in critical areas like the lower limbs and spine for every month spent in space. Despite the presence of exercise equipment on the ISS and the crew members dedicating around two hours a day to exercise, muscle loss is inevitable.

It takes several years for an astronaut to fully recover from a six-month spaceflight, and even then, there are ongoing health concerns. These concerns include a higher risk of bone fractures, an increase in erectile dysfunction, and a higher lifetime risk of cancer due to radiation exposure.

However, there is also an emotional toll that comes with being an astronaut. The isolation and time spent away from loved ones can be quite wearing. Joining the crew of the ISS requires a great deal of fortitude and dedication.

Kononenko expressed to TASS that he does not feel deprived or isolated. However, upon returning home, he realizes that his absence has caused his children to grow up without a father for hundreds of days. Unfortunately, no one can bring back that lost time.

The International Space Station (ISS), established in 1998, stands as the largest space station ever constructed. It is the result of a collaborative effort between five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.

In 2022, due to ongoing tensions between Russia and the US, Russia announced its decision to withdraw from the ISS by the end of 2024 and construct its own space station. However, in December 2023, Roscosmos declared its intention to continue the cross-flight program until 2025.

Unfortunately, the Russian modules and capsules on the ISS have been problematic for several years, frequently experiencing air or coolant leaks.

As the ISS nears the end of its operational lifespan, NASA plans to initiate the deorbiting process in 2030. By that time, new space missions, including the presumed new Roscosmos space station, should be well underway.