Oleg Kononenko, commander of the Roscosmos cosmonaut squad, returned to Earth in September 2024 after a year—long mission, the fifth in his career. In an interview with TASS, the cosmonaut, who set a world record for the total time spent in orbit, spoke about the features of recovery after being in zero gravity, the most vivid impressions of meeting with his native planet, as well as his willingness to participate in all promising projects in Russia, including the Russian Orbital Station (ROS).
— Oleg Dmitrievich, your fifth expedition in your career lasted 375 days, and in total you spent 1,111 days in orbit during your career. Did the Earth welcome you?
— People on Earth, of course, welcomed us very warmly. Everyone missed you, just like us. But there is a special feature: Nikolai and I (Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Chub, who returned on September 23, 2024, along with Kononenko and American Tracey Dyson after an expedition to the ISS — approx. TASS) the earth's gravity began to act. Of course, it was quite difficult for us to move and coordinate our bodies. Therefore, the ground team of specialists helped us a little, who got us out of the lander. However, we recovered quickly enough after landing.
— How is the rehabilitation process going after returning to Earth and how long will it last?
— According to the medical documents, in the first two weeks after landing, we had a period of acute post-flight rehabilitation. We've completed it. Next, three weeks is the recovery period in the sanatorium, and Nikolai and I have completed it. We passed this stage in Kislovodsk. And now we are being examined at certain reference points, these points are determined by statistics and extensive experience in observing astronauts. Doctors observe on the 30th, 45th, 60th, 90th and 180th days. These days, an extended examination is being conducted, clinical specialists are examining, various functional tests are being conducted, on the basis of which it is concluded how the period of readaptation to terrestrial conditions is currently going. At this stage, we are doing well. Doctors will be able to make a final conclusion that our body has fully adapted to earthly conditions in about six months based on all the necessary medical research.
— We recently talked with a doctor who works with astronauts, and the specialist was asked if he would like to go into space himself. The doctor replied that he did not, because he had seen what happened to the children after they returned to Earth. Is the recovery process that difficult?
— I would not say that our appearance after landing can have such a strong influence on the choice of profession. It's just natural that our feet and arms gain weight on Earth. And even though we do physical education twice a day in orbit, it's still quite difficult to start activating muscles.
Plus, of course, some astronauts experience symptoms of motion sickness when rotating their head or body. In addition, a huge number of medical examinations and experiments that are conducted with us in the first few days can make a negative impression.
— You have returned from the fifth space expedition in your career. How much more difficult or easier was it to recover from the flight this time, when you already have a solid rehabilitation experience?
— Although this flight was longer than all the previous ones, but, in my opinion, the body, as if remembering its condition after landing, has already adapted much easier and faster to terrestrial conditions.
— Oleg Dmitrievich, you are the deputy head of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC). On what day did you return to your official duties after returning from space?
— On the third day. It's still the 21st century, and therefore modern document management is not paper, but electronic. I opened my laptop, they connected me to the office network, and I started working.
— What caused you the most vivid emotions after returning to Earth, and which ordinary earthly joys, which became available again, inspired you the most?
— The most vivid emotion, if you can call it an emotion, is the enjoyment of silence. It's quite noisy on the lander and on the station itself. Therefore, on Earth, I can say, plunged into silence. Despite the fact that there are a lot of people, cars, planes, helicopters flying around, it's still much quieter than at the station. And the most joyful moments — it may sound a little strange, but I enjoy walking, I dreamed about it. I like to walk a lot, to walk around my native Korolev, in Moscow. It gives me great pleasure. Also, drink a cup of coffee not from a bag, but freshly brewed, feeling the aroma of natural beans.
— Is it true that astronauts in orbit often dream that they are walking on Earth, meeting someone they know, and they say, "How come you're supposed to be in space right now?" Or is it a story?
— I have completely different dreams, exactly the same as on Earth. On one of our flights to the ISS, we had a problem: the toilet broke down. We were waiting for a cargo ship that was supposed to deliver a part for its repair. MCC (Mission Control Center — approx. TASS) of Moscow said that if we replace it, but the toilet still does not work, then our expedition will most likely have to be completed ahead of schedule. And I had a dream that I was walking through Korolev with my family, my friends saw me and said: "Why did you come back so early, Oleg? Is your toilet broken, you couldn't fix it?" That's the kind of dream you really had, because these external experiences are transferred to your psycho-emotional sphere. And so I dream of the most ordinary things. If I've worked a lot with certain equipment on a given day, I might dream about this job. If I've been photographing a lot, I dream of views of the Earth. But for the most part, I sleep very soundly, because I get tired during the day.
— Tell us about your plans for the near future.
— Now I am very much and often engaged in administrative work due to my official duties. In addition, my condition is monitored by doctors, I have a schedule, and on certain days I come to them and follow the instructions. This will probably continue until the spring of 2025. Then, if everything is fine and my health permits, I will undergo a medical examination and be admitted to special training, after which I will begin preparing for a new space flight. I really hope so.
— So we can say that the prospect of another space flight, maybe even to ROS, is quite real?
— The future will tell. That's what I'm aiming for.
— Oleg Dmitrievich, you are a maximalist and a leader by nature. Do you dream of becoming one of the first astronauts to go to a promising space station?
— Ekaterina, we have already talked about records and dreams. Indeed, as a professional, I don't so much want to be the first, as I would like to participate in all endeavors, tests of new technology, and flights that have a completely different purpose than working in low-Earth orbit. I would love to participate and I will try to do so. But I don't have a goal to be the first everywhere.
— Recently, Vladimir Kozhevnikov, chief designer of the promising ROS, said that the CPC had already sent a list of cosmonauts who would be preparing for a flight to the station. As the commander of the cosmonaut squad, could you tell us the names of the people who joined it, and whether you are part of it?
— This information was slightly misunderstood. Vladimir and I work very closely, both the cosmonaut team and myself in particular. And since he is the chief designer of the new ROS station, we give him comments and discuss them. Some developers accept, some don't. Among other things, the question arose that it was necessary to form a group of expert astronauts who, if any controversial issues arose, could gather, hold a meeting and make a final decision. Naturally, this group includes astronauts who are currently less busy preparing for new space flights and launches. Such a group has been formed, but this does not mean that these cosmonauts will be the first to fly to ROS. Everything will depend on their employment, on their destination. Flights to ROS will begin no earlier than 2028, and crews will begin forming closer to that date. In the meantime, a list of cosmonauts has been formed who will participate in various meetings on the creation of a promising station. But in fact, the whole squad is involved in this process.
— During the fifth expedition, you set a record for the total duration of stay in orbit, surpassing the achievement of Gennady Padalka. Is this record officially recognized?
— The reality is that, unfortunately, the membership of the Russian Federation of Aviation and Cosmonautics in the International Federation of Aviation, whose headquarters are located in Lausanne (Switzerland), is currently suspended due to well-known events. Therefore, the case for setting the world record has been drawn up, sent to Lausanne, it has been received and is currently just lying motionless. Everyone is waiting for Russia's membership to be renewed, and after that the record will be officially approved. That's why I'm the de facto world record holder.
— You once said that you fly into space not to set records, but to do what you love. What emotions, impressions, sensations, and tasks would you like to return to space for?
— That's a good question, of course. The simplest thing is for the sake of weightlessness. Because weightlessness is still an amazing thing, you fly freely like a bird. Besides, I would like to return for the sake of the view of the Earth from space. Well, the most serious part is scientific experiments. Because my profession gives me the opportunity to participate in the advancement of humanity in space. In addition, the experiments that we perform at the station provide an opportunity to communicate with outstanding people of our country, with well-known scientists, and this is worth a lot. In a simple life, being not an astronaut, of course, it is difficult to meet academician Vladimir Fortov. But when I was preparing for one of the flights, he told me the fundamental principles of the experiment that was to be conducted on the ISS. It's these preferences that motivate me to go into space.
— During this expedition, you have performed many scientific experiments. Some of them were very difficult, requiring lengthy training. Which ones do you remember the most?
— The Quail experiment left the most vivid impression. I continue to follow him with interest, the results of the experiment are not yet clear at the moment. I am interested to know why quails were born with anomalies at the Mir station. In addition, I remember the experiment using 4D bioprinting technology, because it is really a breakthrough technology, without which humanity will not survive in the future. To print materials, biological fabrics in space, to assemble constructs (organs printed on a bioprinter and having certain functions — approx. TASS) — all this is the future.
— You know everything about Russian space systems. And which of the foreign equipment would you like to test personally?
— There is still no breakthrough in cosmonautics that we would really like to try.
That's why I still dream of flying into space on our rocket, on our Soyuz. But I hope that in the coming years our scientists will create something that will enable Russia to make significant progress in space. And I would fly on the ship that will be created.
— We have been following the fate of the Boeing ship with great concern. Tell me, how did it feel from space?
— Both astronauts and astronauts have a high level of stress tolerance, so Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams (the crew of the Boeing Starliner, delayed on the ISS due to a malfunction of their ship — approx. TASS) participated in negotiations and discussions for a long time and never lost their presence of mind. They were always quite optimistic and joked. They had something to do on the flight, and a program was formed. From my point of view, of course, it's mentally difficult when you fly for eight days and stay at the station for eight months. But Sunita and Butch were prepared for this development, because they are astronauts and this can happen to anyone.
— The New Year is coming soon, this time you are celebrating it on Earth. What do you usually do on this day when you're not in orbit?
— I really hope that I will celebrate the New Year the way I always do.
I had been preparing for my first flight for quite a long time, and on the night from 2007 to 2008, it was still not completely clear whether Sergey Volkov and I would fly into space. I'm very tired, I fell asleep. I flew into space and achieved my dream, so now I'm steadily trying to fall asleep on New Year's Eve.
— During the year-long mission, you were a special correspondent for TASS on the ISS and became the agency's most productive special correspondent in the entire history of the space corps, having prepared a lot of interesting materials. One of the main objectives of the project is to popularize the activities of Russia and our cosmonauts in space. How and what, in your opinion, should we talk about space in order to attract people to it?
— Indeed, this initiative of TASS in space is very important and interesting. First of all, I tested myself in such a new capacity. Secondly, TASS is read by a huge number of people, and I have the opportunity to tell readers directly about why we work in space, what we do, and what we fly. Therefore, this project should not be stopped in any way, but rather developed and, perhaps, transferred to Earth and talked about the terrestrial part of cosmonaut training.
But in general, unfortunately, when big space holidays or big holidays of our country are celebrated and achievements are shown, most of the materials about space relate to our history. I do not detract from the merits of the pioneers, our first cosmonauts, but we need to talk more and more often about the current state of space exploration, the cosmonaut squad, and the people who fly and prepare for flights.
Now the Roscosmos press service performs this function quite well through social networks. But anyway, let's say I was in flight on April 12, and I watched the footage of Yuri Gagarin's launch being shown again. This is a great man, a great event for the whole world, but the younger generation of guys will probably be interested in learning about how modern cosmonauts came to the profession, what they graduated from, how they studied, and what experiments they conduct. From this point of view, it is necessary to show more, more often and at the most convenient time, not at night. Then there will be a result.
— As far as I know, there are certain difficulties in recruiting cosmonauts, and maybe not many people go to participate in the selection process. What do you think needs to be done in order for boys, girls, and young people to start dreaming of becoming astronauts again?
— The question, of course, is controversial. If we take the population of the country and the number of applications submitted, then it's probably not much.
From the point of view of having girls in the squad, I have already expressed my point of view on this issue: unfortunately, the training is such that it requires complete immersion in the profession, long business trips, long training sessions, and, of course, a woman is primarily the keeper of the hearth. There are some girls who are ready to devote themselves to the profession, but not enough. Therefore, strictly speaking, this is the problem. But I don't see such a catastrophic fall right now. That is, we are still recruiting how many people we want to recruit into the cosmonaut squad.
From my point of view, we can observe a partial deterioration in the level of education, but in general we select educated, competent candidates for astronauts. But not all of them meet the criteria of health.
— What advice would you give to those guys, young people who dream of connecting their lives with astronautics?
— Believe in yourself and believe in our country. Everything will work out. Russia was, is, and will be a great space power.
Ekaterina Adamova
