Russian Cosmonaut Earns the Title “The Most Time Spent in Space”

Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka broke the record for total time in space at 1:42 in the morning, Moscow time, The Guardian reported.

Padalka was on the International Space Station when he broke the record. Previously, the record was held by another Russian Sergei Krikalev, who spent 803 days, nine hours and 41 minutes in space.

The guardian reported that Padalka, who turned 57 recently, told journalist before he left for his space mission in March that he was willing to go for 1,000 days in space once he breaks Sergei Krikalev's record. It is said that when Padalka returns to his homebase on September 11, he will have spent 878 days in space.

The team Padalka has launched to space with has two other astronauts; Russian Mikhail Kornienko and American Scott Kelly who will stay at the space station when Padalka heads for the Earth. The two will be participating in a year long study to investigate how long-term spaceflight affects the human body. The research is said to be vital in terms of preparing to go to Mars.

As science is still trying to discover the effects of spaceflight on human body, it is an established fact that the psychological challenges that come with the mission are not to be ignored.

One cosmonaut, Yury Baturin, who worked together with Padalka during a mission, told The Guardian: "It is not so much the hardship of working with other crew members, but rather that you are cut off from your family, from your home, and for a very long time."  Baturin also added: "Gennady is a real professional. He loves his work, and when a person loves his work, time doesn't drag on. He deals with challenges through his work." The experienced cosmonaut noted that he thinks Padalka, is one of the most experienced in dangerous situations, The Guardian reported.