Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, the commander of the Roscosmos crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS), TASS special correspondent and Hero of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, on achieving a world record for the total duration of time spent in Earth's orbit.
"On behalf of the head of state, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, on behalf of the people of Turkmenistan, and on my personal behalf, I commend you for your remarkable accomplishment—the world record for the cumulative time spent in Earth's orbital space. Your achievement is a testament to your dedication and resolve in the peaceful exploration of space and the application of astronautical research and endeavors for the betterment of humanity," Berdimuhamedov expressed in a congratulatory message, as quoted by the official newspaper Neytralny Turkmenistan.
The chairman also drew attention to the significance of Kononenko's record being set in the year marking the 300th anniversary of the renowned Turkmen philosopher, poet, and thinker Makhtumkuli Fraghi. "Fraghi's works extolled the virtues of friendship, brotherhood, and peace, advocating for unity and solidarity, and underscoring the crucial role of science and knowledge. These principles and values are deeply embedded in the pursuit of space studies and their beneficial applications for all inhabitants of our planet," Berdimuhamedov noted, extending an invitation to Kononenko to join in the celebrations of Fraghi's anniversary in Turkmenistan.
Kononenko surpassed the previous record held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, who accumulated a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in space across five missions from 1998 to 2015. Currently, Kononenko is on his fifth space mission and is anticipated to reach the milestone of 1,000 days in space on June 5 at 00:00:20 Moscow time. He will also celebrate his 60th birthday while in space in June, and upon completion of his current expedition, his total flight time will amount to 1,110 days.
Oleg Kononenko was born on June 21, 1964, in Chardzhou, Turkmen SSR (present-day Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan).
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Kobby Mendez/Unsplash
Based on materials from TASS