Russian Cosmonaut Sets New Record with 878 Days Spent in Space

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, announced on Sunday that Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, reaching 878 days in orbit.

According to the agency, the 59-year-old cosmonaut, who currently leads the Russian space agency's team of astronauts, is now on his fifth mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Kononenko has now surpassed the previous record holder, his Russian colleague Gennady Padalka, for the longest time spent in space.

Roscosmos stated that Padalka spent a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space over five missions, with his last mission concluding in 2015.

Kononenko is expected to continue his current mission in space until September 23.

Oleg Kononenko embarked on his first journey to the International Space Station in 2008.

This remarkable achievement highlights the dedication and endurance of cosmonauts like Kononenko in pushing the boundaries of human exploration in space.