International / Oleg Kononenko to assume command of the ISS : A new chapter in space Odyssey
Space, a realm of exploration without borders, saw a new chapter open as Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko took command of the International Space Station (ISS), succeeding Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
The announcement, made Sunday by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, marks a historic moment as Kononenko, holder of the world record for the most hours spent in space, assumes the responsibility of leading this iconic facility above our heads.
The command handover was marked by a ceremony where Andreas Mogensen symbolically handed over the key to the station to the Russian cosmonaut. The crew also commemorated this event by ringing the bell of the ISS.
Oleg Kononenko will lead the ISS until the end of September 2024. During this period, he will strive to improve the world record for total time spent in space, aiming to reach 1,110 days.
In addition to Oleg Kononenko, several other crew members are currently aboard the ISS. Among them are Russian cosmonauts Nikolay Chub and Konstantin Borisov, NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, as well as ESA Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
According to Roscosmos, part of the crew, including Moghbeli, Mogensen, Furukawa, and Borisov, is expected to depart the ISS on Monday to return to Earth aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, developed by SpaceX for NASA.
