Hero of Turkmenistan and Russia, commander of the Roscosmos astronaut team Oleg Kononenko, who holds the world record for total time spent in space, has expressed his intention to continue his space flights as long as his family is supportive. This was reported by TASS.

"I am not considering my life in any other context. I want to fly and will keep flying until my family says 'stop' for various reasons or due to physical limitations," said Kononenko.

According to the astronaut, he does not need additional motivation to continue his professional activities. "This is my favorite job. I am doing what I love and what I have aspired to in life. Therefore, I do not require any extra motivation," he emphasized.

Kononenko updated the world record for total time spent in space on February 4, 2024, while working aboard the International Space Station. On June 5 of the same year, he became the first person in history to have spent a total of 1,000 days in space. After completing his fifth space expedition, Kononenko set a new world record – 1,111 days of cumulative time in space.

Kononenko was born on June 21, 1964, in the city of Chardzhou (now Turkmenabad) in the Turkmen SSR. In 1981, he graduated from secondary school No. 15. It was in his childhood, on Turkmen soil, that Oleg Kononenko began dreaming of space exploration.