Russian Cosmonaut Sets Record for Time in Space
2024-02-06
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1Russia's space agency Roscosmos says cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for total time spent in space.
2Kononenko passed the record Sunday after spending more than 878 days and 12 hours in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
3The previous record was set in 2015 by another cosmonaut, Gennady Padalka, who spent 878 days and 11 and a half hours in space.
4The 59-year-old Kononenko has so far made five trips to the ISS.
5The first one came in 2008.
6Kononenko told Russia's state-supported news agency, TASS, that each trip he took to the ISS required careful preparation.
7This is because the orbiting space lab is always getting upgrades.
8Kononenko said his repeated space trips represent the realization of a childhood dream to become a cosmonaut.
9"I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records," he told TASS.
10He added that his continued interest in living and working in orbit "motivates" him to keep flying.
11Kononenko's current trip to the ISS began on Sept. 15, 2023.
12He arrived along with American astronaut Loral O'Hara and cosmonaut Nikolai Chub.
13Kononenko's service on the ISS is continuing.
14He is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5.
15His current flight is expected to end in late September.
16By then, he will have spent at least 1,110 days in space.
17Kononenko said he worked out often aboard the ISS to help him deal with the physical effects of weightlessness.
18He added that he realizes the social effects of his long stays on the ISS when he returns back to Earth.
19"It is only upon returning home that the realization comes that, for hundreds of days in my absence, the children have been growing up without a papa," Kononenko said.
20"No one will return this time to me."
21Kononenko noted that cosmonauts are now able to use video calls and messaging to stay in better touch with their family.
22He said one of the most difficult things about being a cosmonaut is getting ready for each new space flight.
23"The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated," Kononenko said.
24"The systems and experiments are becoming more complicated."
25The ISS is one of only a few areas where the United States and Russia still closely cooperate after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
26Roscosmos announced in December that its program with the American space agency NASA to transport astronauts to the ISS had been extended until 2025.
27I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Russia's space agency Roscosmos says cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for total time spent in space. 2Kononenko passed the record Sunday after spending more than 878 days and 12 hours in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS). 3The previous record was set in 2015 by another cosmonaut, Gennady Padalka, who spent 878 days and 11 and a half hours in space. 4The 59-year-old Kononenko has so far made five trips to the ISS. The first one came in 2008. 5Kononenko told Russia's state-supported news agency, TASS, that each trip he took to the ISS required careful preparation. This is because the orbiting space lab is always getting upgrades. 6Kononenko said his repeated space trips represent the realization of a childhood dream to become a cosmonaut. "I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records," he told TASS. 7He added that his continued interest in living and working in orbit "motivates" him to keep flying. 8Kononenko's current trip to the ISS began on Sept. 15, 2023. He arrived along with American astronaut Loral O'Hara and cosmonaut Nikolai Chub. 9Kononenko's service on the ISS is continuing. He is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5. His current flight is expected to end in late September. By then, he will have spent at least 1,110 days in space. 10Kononenko said he worked out often aboard the ISS to help him deal with the physical effects of weightlessness. 11He added that he realizes the social effects of his long stays on the ISS when he returns back to Earth. 12"It is only upon returning home that the realization comes that, for hundreds of days in my absence, the children have been growing up without a papa," Kononenko said. "No one will return this time to me." 13Kononenko noted that cosmonauts are now able to use video calls and messaging to stay in better touch with their family. 14He said one of the most difficult things about being a cosmonaut is getting ready for each new space flight. "The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated," Kononenko said. "The systems and experiments are becoming more complicated." 15The ISS is one of only a few areas where the United States and Russia still closely cooperate after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 16Roscosmos announced in December that its program with the American space agency NASA to transport astronauts to the ISS had been extended until 2025. 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 19_______________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21upgrade - v. to improve the quality or usefulness of something 22realization - n. the process of noticing or understanding something that you did not notice or understand before 23motivate - v. to make someone want to do something 24absence - n. not being in a particular place 25complicated - adj. complex or difficult to understand