This Russian cosmonaut has set a new record for the longest time in space

The view may be to die for but imagine being away from home for over two years, living on rehydrated meals and strapping yourself to a vacuum every time you need the bathroom.

Does it sound like something from outer space? Well, it is: this is the daily reality for Oleg Kononenko (59), the Russian cosmonaut who’s made history as the person who’s spent the longest time in space – 879 days in total as of 4 February when the record was announced.

He set it while orbiting 423km from Earth during his fifth space flight. "I fly into space to do my favourite thing [his job], not break records,” Oleg told the Russian news agency Tass in an interview from the International Space Station (ISS).