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Time-in-Space Record Broken

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-you-thought-you-had-a-rough-couple-of-years dept.

NoFrance writes "Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev has taken the record for most time spent in space away from fellow Russian Sergei Avdeyev. At 748 days in space, Krikalev has an impressive list of accomplishments to his name, including : back-to-back 6 month tours on mir, he flew on the first joint US-Russian space shuttle mission, and a member of the first crew to live on ISS. He is currently commander of the ISS in a six-month stint that began on 14 April. Most impressive is his ability to deal with the physical hardships in space. In space most people lose around 1.5% of their bone mass per month, even with a disciplined exercise regime. And growing the bone mass lost from a 6 month stint back, can take a long time."

4 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. 748 days? by slavemowgli · · Score: 4, Interesting

    748 days? Wow. Think about that - it's more than two years. Quite an accomplishment indeed.

    Out of curiosity, what's the record amount of time spent in space by a US-American astronaut?

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    quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    1. Re:748 days? by Rei · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Think about that - it's more than two years

      And he's gained 2 milliseconds compared to people on the ground! :) Assuming I'm doing the math right here...

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      Kneel Before Christ!
  2. Retire to Mars? by RobertB-DC · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In previous discussions about a mission to Mars, the suggestion often comes up about a one-way trip -- one or more explorers who make the trip with no intention of coming back. Pioneers, really, rather than explorers.

    This poor guy, who keeps getting tapped for "hey, ya think you can spend another year or so in zero-g, tovarisch?" is probably having it worse and worse when he comes back to Terra. How much of his "stamina" is due to some freak of biology, and how much comes straight from a Soviet-era "We invented it first, and better!" mindset?

    If he's starting to feel those months in space when he's back on Earth, maybe Krikalev might want to take it easy in his retirement. Like, about 62% easier? Although medical facilities on Mars might be a bit lacking, even by Soviet standards.

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    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  3. Re:If you've ever met Mrs. Krikalev... by Mondoz · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Haven't met her, but I've had the pleasure of meeting with him on several occasions.
    He's exceptionally smart, terribly friendly, and has an amazing presence when he enters a room.

    There's a lot of astronauts & cosmonauts that have succumbed to the prima donna syndrome, and don't come off as being nearly as impressive.

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