A Russian cosmonaut has become the first person to spend 1,000 days in space

On June 5, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko accomplished the historic feat of becoming the first person to spend 1,000 days in orbit around the Earth. This outstanding achievement crowns the exceptional professional activity of Kononenko, who in February already surpassed the previous space record held by his compatriot Gennady Padalka. Having broken this record, Kononenko has already demonstrated exceptional dedication and endurance in the field of space exploration.

A new record

This remarkable milestone, achieved in five separate space flights, testifies to the longevity of Oleg Kononenko's career as an astronaut. Despite achieving this record, the cosmonaut does not intend to slow down. His departure from the International Space Station is scheduled for September 23, marking a new chapter in his space career. By this point, the total number of days he spent in orbit will reach 1,110 days, or about three full years spent in space.

In a statement to the Russian news agency TASS, Oleg Kononenko expressed pride and satisfaction at achieving this milestone. He described the feeling of touching the unknown and achieving something new, which strengthens his confidence and pride in his work. The NASA record belongs to American astronaut Peggy Whitson, who spent 665 days in space, which is an impressive achievement, but still much less than Kononenko's. As for the longest stay in space, our cosmonauts are still in the lead here. Valery Polyakov's record was 437 days and 18 hours aboard the Mir space station in the mid-1990s. For NASA, the record of continuous stay on the station belongs to Frank Rubio. He stayed on the station longer than expected due to problems with the spacecraft, and eventually stayed on it for 371 days.

Numerous effects on the human body

Naturally, spending so much time in orbit, astronauts are exposed to a number of physiological effects caused by microgravity. One of the main problems encountered in microgravity is the redistribution of body fluids, such as blood, which tends to migrate to the upper body. This redistribution can lead to uncomfortable rearrangements in the cardiovascular and vestibular systems, sometimes causing discomfort and nausea in astronauts who find themselves in space for the first time. Microgravity also has a detrimental effect on the bone and muscle mass of astronauts. Without gravity exerting pressure on bones and muscles, these tissues gradually atrophy. During a month in space, astronauts can lose up to 1-2% of their bone mass, which can lead to a decrease in bone density and an increased risk of fractures. At the same time, loss of muscle density can lead to a decrease in muscle strength and endurance, which jeopardizes astronauts' ability to perform physically demanding tasks during and after spaceflight.

To mitigate these negative effects, astronauts must follow a rigorous physical training program aboard the space station, including resistance, cardio, and flexibility exercises. However, despite these efforts, some physiological changes persist and may require long-term rehabilitation after returning to Earth. Oleg Kononenko's return to Earth will provide a valuable opportunity to study these effects on the human body. The data obtained will help to better understand the mechanisms of physiological adaptation to microgravity and improve prevention and rehabilitation strategies for future long-term space travel.

Source: New-Science.ru