A 59-year-old Russian cosmonaut has made history by becoming the first person to spend 1,000 days in space, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Oleg Kononenko achieved this remarkable milestone on Tuesday, marking his fifth journey to the International Space Station since 2008. His current mission began on September 15, 2023, when he launched alongside a NASA astronaut and a fellow Russian cosmonaut.
Kononenko surpassed the previous cumulative space time record in February 2024, exceeding the total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds set by another Russian cosmonaut in 2015. If his mission concludes as planned on September 23, 2024, he will have spent a total of 1,110 days in orbit.
Reflecting on his achievement, Kononenko expressed a sense of accomplishment and pride, stating, 'There’s this awareness that you have achieved something new and important, that you’ve overcome a certain milestone, touched the unknown. It gives you confidence and pride in the work you’ve done.' He also mentioned that his American colleagues on the ISS were among the first to congratulate him on this significant milestone.
The International Space Station continues to serve as a symbol of close cooperation between the United States and Russia, despite tensions resulting from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Roscosmos recently announced the extension of its cross-flight program with NASA, ensuring the continued transportation of astronauts to the ISS until 2025.
