Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has etched his name in the annals of space history as the first person to spend 1000 days in the cosmos. Known in Russia as a 'cosmonaut,' Oleg has set a new record, eclipsing the previous milestone held by Russian Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka who had spent 878 days in orbit.
During his fifth space mission, Oleg also marked his third term as commander of the International Space Station. His most recent journey to the orbital laboratory commenced on September 15, 2023, aboard the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft.
Source: aajtak
Accompanying him on his mission were his fellow Russian Cosmonaut Nikolai Shub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara. Oleg, along with NASA's astronaut Tracy Dyson, is set to return to Earth in September 2024. Former TRISH Chief, Emanuel Urquita, highlighted that what Oleg has accomplished is a significant milestone not easily achieved. And there are still a few more months for him to spend in the great expanse of space.
Upon his return, research will focus on the effects of communication lag due to the distance from Earth, radiation impact, the psychological and physiological effects of solitude and confinement, gravity's toll, and the overall impact of living in a closed environment.
Source: aajtak
Upon Oleg's return, new revelations about the human body and mind are expected, offering us insights into how prolonged duration in space may affect not just physical health, but psychological welfare as well. This examination will take place once he's back on terra firma.
