Trio’s Delayed Journey
The International Space Station’s Expedition 69 crew is set to welcome three new members, including astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and Canada. Astronauts O’Hara, Kononenko, and Chub were originally scheduled to fly to the space station earlier this year. However, their plans were delayed when their intended capsule, Soyuz MS-23, was reassigned as a replacement for another crew.
Extended Stay and Record-Breaking Achievements
O’Hara will spend six months on the space station, while Kononenko and Chub will extend their stay to a full year. This extension in their mission duration was due to a coolant leak discovered in the capsule while it was docked at the station. For O’Hara and Chub, this will mark their second mission in space, while mission commander Kononenko is on his remarkable fifth trip to the orbiting outpost.
By the end of his yearlong stay, Kononenko will achieve a significant milestone, setting a new record for the longest time spent in space, surpassing a remarkable thousand days.