Astronaut breaks record for most time spent in space

Over the weekend, a cosmonaut named Oleg Kononenko made history by beating the world record for the longest time spent in space.

The Russian cosmonaut logged more than 878 days and 12 hours in space, which is the equivalent of nearly two and a half years.

On the back of his achievement, Kononenko said: 'I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records. I've dreamt of and aspired to become a cosmonaut since I was a child.

'That interest - the opportunity to fly into space, to live and work in orbit - motivates me to continue flying.'

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set a new record for the most time spent in space /VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / Contributor / Getty

Kononenko set the new record during his fifth space flight whilst he was orbiting 263 miles (423km) away from planet Earth.

The cosmonaut's mission started last September when he first launched to the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Roscosmos compatriot Nikolai Chub.

By the time this journey ends after a year, he'll have logged a total of 1,110 days in space.

'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,' Kononenko added.

According to a Russian telegram, the 59-year-old is expected to hit his 1,000th day in space on June 5, 2024, around midnight Moscow time.

However, the 59-year-old is now eager to get back to the family time that he feels he's missed out on.

'It is only upon returning home that the realisation comes that for hundreds of days in my absence the children have been growing up without a papa. No one will return this time to me.'

The 59-year-old surpassed 878 days and 12 hours / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / Contributor / Getty

He said through regular contact with his family through regular video calls and frequent exercise, he didn't feel 'deprived or isolated.'

His five space flights have spanned 16 years, during which he highlighted that every space flight preparation becomes harder due to advancements in technology.

'The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated. The systems and experiments are becoming more complicated. I repeat, the preparation has not become easier,' he pointed out.

Before Kononenko, the record was held by Gennady Padalka, who spent a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space before retiring in 2017. He also joins the ranks of other compatriot cosmonauts making history like Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into space back in 1961.