Moscow, 4 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko broke the world record for the most time in space on Sunday, when he logged his 878th day in orbit, Russian space agency Roskosmos said.

The 59-year-old, who is the commander of the Roscosmos cosmonaut squad, is currently on his fifth stay on the International Space Station (ISS).

Kononenko has now accumulated more time in orbit than his Russian colleague and previous record-holder Gennady Padalka.

Padalka had spent 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 48 seconds in space over the course of five missions that latest until 2015, Roskosmos said.

Kononenko's current deployment is set to last until September 23.

He flew to the ISS for the first time in 2008. His latest tour of duty at humanity's outpost in space began in mid-September.

Photo: EPA