Oleg Kononenko, commander of the Roscosmos cosmonaut detachment, TASS special correspondent on the International Space Station (ISS), has become the new world record holder for the total duration of space flights. Currently, the cosmonaut is on an annual expedition aboard the ISS, the flight is the fifth in his career. In an interview with TASS, Kononenko spoke about his attitude to the new achievement and the secrets of professional longevity, the main disadvantages of the ISS and his vision of a promising Russian orbital station (ROS)
— Oleg Dmitrievich, have you dreamed of breaking the record that Gennady Padalka has held since 2015, or do you treat such things calmly?
— I fly into space in order to do my favorite thing, not to set records. Cosmonaut is a profession that I have dreamed of, been interested in and aspired to since childhood. This interest, the opportunity to fly into space, live and work in orbit motivate me to continue flying. I am proud of all my achievements, but I am more proud that the record for the total duration of human stay in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut.
— Does it feel on a physical or any other level that you have spent so much time in your life, already over 800 days, in orbit?
— Being on Earth, subjectively, I do not feel any changes, either mentally or physically. The attitude towards the Earth and people remains the same. Of course, space flights do not add to my health, but I always lead an active lifestyle, regularly play sports both on Earth and in space. Naturally, immediately after returning to Earth, the first days, during the period of acute rehabilitation, physical discomfort is felt. Weightlessness is insidious: you fully control your body in it, but if you do not train while in flight, do not physically prepare yourself for earthly conditions, then after returning it will be more difficult for the body to adapt to gravity and it will take much longer to restore normal physical activity. Crew doctors who work with us at all stages of flight preparation and execution, as well as in the post-flight period, provide great support in matters of cosmonauts' health.
And from a psychological point of view, during the period of work in orbit, I do not feel deprived or isolated. It is only upon returning home that the realization comes that for hundreds of days of my absence, the children grew up without a dad. No one will return this time to me, which is very frustrating.
— This is your fifth space flight. What has changed in the preparation process, as well as on the station itself since your first stay in space, and what has remained unchanged?
— The main paradox is that with each subsequent flight, the preparation for it does not become easier. The ISS is replenished with new modules, the ship is constantly being upgraded, new design and layout elements, improved systems, technical and software are appearing. All this, of course, requires additional study. New disciplines and new exams are appearing in the training program. Each flight is a new configuration of the ISS. In particular, two new modules have now been added to the Russian segment of the ISS: MLM (multifunctional laboratory module) and node module, which were not in orbit during my previous flight.
In addition, the level of scientific experiments becomes more complicated from flight to flight, new, quite interesting and high-tech experiments appear in the program, more modern equipment for conducting scientific research is being developed and delivered. However, the friendly atmosphere, mutual support and mutual understanding between all crew members remain unchanged at the station.
— How have the achievements of progress simplified the lives of modern astronauts compared to the beginning of your career?
— Of course, there was an opportunity to use IP telephony before, but for this, the families of astronauts had to come to the Mission Control Center on certain days and at the appointed time. Now, with free time and satellite communications, we can organize video calls, make calls, and communicate with our relatives on a daily basis. Our relatives can also use any device: computer, smartphone, tablet. Text messages, photos, videos — all this is available to us today.
In addition, the communication system has been upgraded in the Russian segment. If earlier we returned a hard drive with us to transfer a large amount of information to Earth, now it is possible to dump data arrays in real time using modern means of communication. The computer network and software on board the ISS are being updated. On the second flight, I started using a tablet for the first time, and now we use these tablets all the time. They greatly facilitated the work of the astronauts. It became possible to use on-board documentation and radiograms in electronic form. We receive training animations and videos from technical specialists in order to understand in more detail how to work with systems. The Internet speed on the ISS has increased, it has become possible to independently search and watch movies on board without involving the same MCC. The Soyuz has been updated very seriously, in particular its onboard navigation system: now we get to the ISS in two turns — almost within three hours.
— Does all this mean that modern cosmonauts are in some ways much easier and more pleasant than their predecessors, or has the profession, on the contrary, become more complicated?
— The profession of an astronaut is becoming more complicated. Systems and experiments are becoming more complicated. I repeat, the preparation has not become easier.
— During the current expedition, you are performing a number of experiments. In particular, the Quail experiment was successfully completed in December. Which of the experiments could you highlight, which are of the greatest scientific interest and complexity?
— Now in the European Columbus module, using new modern equipment, we are continuing the research that I conducted back in the first expedition: Plasma Crystal, an experiment to study the formation of ordered structures of charged particles.
Another interesting experiment is "EarthCam", which is photographing high—resolution sections of the Earth's surface from the ISS. The experiment is conducted at the request of schoolchildren, students, and educational institutions from all over the world.
Also on the third flight, I participated in the joint Russian-German Kontur-2 experiment on controlling ground robots from space. With the help of a joystick placed on board the ISS, I controlled the robot, which was on the Ground, and when I reached some obstacle, I felt the force on the handle.
A complex, unique and important experiment from the point of view of medical development is an experiment on growing living tissues in space. During the first session of the experiment, which I performed in December 2018 on the fourth flight, a three-dimensional tissue-engineered structure of the mouse thyroid gland and human cartilage tissue was obtained. As already noted, the study has undeniable scientific significance: such an experiment was conducted in space for the first time. This flight will be an experiment using more advanced 4D bioprinting technology, during which we hope to obtain the equivalents of tubular organs. I will be conducting this experiment in March.
— I read that few cosmonauts retain their personal goal and desire to continue flying after several flights in principle. How in so many years have you managed to stay, as you call it, "hungry" before flying into space?
— I'll speak for myself. Cosmonautics accumulates knowledge from a wide variety of branches of science and technology. An astronaut is a profession where you need to constantly study and keep yourself in good intellectual and physical shape. And this is very important to me. I like to be in good shape, to be active, to be at the peak of knowledge and up to date with the latest achievements, to constantly expand my horizons. And of course, once experienced the feeling of weightlessness gives an additional incentive and charges with the desire to repeat the experience of space flight.
Personally, conducting scientific experiments in orbit has always been of great interest to me. Because it gives a special sense of belonging to the research that scientists are doing on Earth and the results of which humanity will use to solve important issues.
— Is there a possibility that a sixth space flight will take place in your career? Will you strive for this?
— The future will show. I don't like to guess, I prefer to talk about the results that are available today. I will strive to continue to do my job professionally and with pleasure.
— You started your career in Samara as an engineer at the Central Specialized Design Bureau, where you were engaged in designing spacecraft power supply systems. What was the turning point when you made the final decision to retrain from a spacecraft design engineer to test cosmonauts?
— There was no turning point. I made the decision to become an astronaut long before I entered the institute. I've been dreaming about this since I was a kid.
At that time, candidates for the cosmonaut corps were selected either from among military pilots or among engineering and technical personnel. I enrolled in an engineering specialty and after graduating from the institute purposefully came to Samara and got a job at the Central Specialized Design Bureau as an engineer for designing spacecraft power supply systems in order to gain experience in my specialty and start a career path towards my ultimate goal and dream. When I realized that I had settled in and held this position, I decided to move on.
— It is known that cosmonauts are actively involved in the development of a promising Russian orbital station, as well as a new transport ship, which is now called the PTK. Could you share a personal vision of what they should be like?
— A promising Russian orbital station should be not only structurally and technologically modern, but also convenient for astronauts to operate, ergonomic for life and work. Therefore, I expect that target modules will be designed and created for certain tasks of astronauts. For example, a household module where astronauts sleep, eat, spend their free time, etc. A separate module is also needed for physical education, a module for conducting scientific research, and an overview module for taking photographs — an analog of the Dome on the American segment of the ISS. We must learn to live and work in space in comfort and build a real space house, not just a place to stay temporarily.
The same applies to the new manned spacecraft. In general, a working group of specialists from RSC Energia and the Cosmonaut Training Center has been created on ergonomics and layout of the habitable command compartment of a new generation spacecraft. All comments and suggestions, I hope, are taken into account when designing. At the same time, the ship must remain a reliable means of delivery to the space station, which is the Soyuz.
— You have spent a lot of time on the ISS, you know the station like the back of your hand. What are the main disadvantages of this station, the problematic points that should be taken into account when creating a ROS?
— The most problematic point, in my opinion, is the versatility of the service module of the Russian segment of the ISS. In one module, we do everything: exercise, eat, use the toilet, do some technical work, take photos and research. There are also cabins for sleeping and relaxing. To ensure the comfort of astronauts, specialized modules should be created for specific needs and tasks. The future station should also be more self-sufficient and less dependent on Earth, as the ISS is now. That is, she could provide for herself on her own. This will require the refinement and improvement of existing water regeneration systems, oxygen supply, the development of equipment for waste disposal and the manufacture of spare parts at the station itself to perform repair and maintenance work.
— Your commander's cabin at the station has a view of the Earth. Is it possible to get used to the contemplation of this splendor?
— Of course, you can't get used to it. It's great that the designers provided for the presence of a porthole in the cabin. By the way, there are no portholes in the cabins of Americans. The earth is something I always admire before going to bed, and the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. The beauty is incredible. I always say that it is impossible to photograph the Earth as you see it with your eyes. Therefore, I try to enjoy the views of the globe every day while I am in flight.
— The profession of an astronaut involves frequent long-term breakups with loved ones. How do your relatives — wife Tatiana and children, Andrey and Alice - feel about this?
— My family, of course, always support me in everything. They understand that I really love my profession and it is important for me to realize myself in business. Alice and Andrey are now 3rd year students. Andrey chose a technical specialty, Alice is interested in the humanities. Personally, for me and my wife, the most important thing is that the children eventually choose their favorite profession and be happy.
— Do your spouse and children always accompany you and meet you after flights?
— Always. Except for the first flight in 2008. I didn't take my family to Baikonur, they were in the MCC. The children were four years old. Now it is already a family tradition to see off and meet Dad from outer space.