Top 10 Astronauts Who Spent the Longest Time in Space

Space exploration has always been a field of great curiosity and ambition. Some astronauts have spent an extraordinary amount of time in space, conducting research, experiments, and maintaining space stations. This article lists the top 10 astronauts who have spent the longest cumulative time in space.

Top 10 Astronauts with the Longest Time in Space

Rank	Astronaut	Space Industry	Total Time in Space
1	Gennady Padalka	Roscosmos	878 days
2	Yuri Malenchenko	Roscosmos	827 days
3	Sergey Krikalev	Roscosmos	803 days
4	Aleksandr Kaleri	Roscosmos	769 days
5	Sergey Avdeyev	Roscosmos	747 days
6	Oleg Kononenko	Roscosmos	736 days
7	Fyodor Yurchikhin	Roscosmos	673 days
8	Valery Polyakov	Roscosmos	678 days
9	Anatoly Solovyev	Roscosmos	651 days
10	Sunita Williams	NASA	286 days

1. Gennady Padalka

Gennady Padalka, a Russian cosmonaut, holds the world record for the most time spent in space, with a total of 878 days, 11 hours, and 29 minutes over five missions. He commanded the International Space Station (ISS) multiple times and participated in significant scientific research projects. His contributions include advancements in space medicine and long-duration human spaceflight endurance.

2. Yuri Malenchenko

Yuri Malenchenko, another Russian cosmonaut, has accumulated 827 days, 9 hours, and 22 minutes in space across six missions. He was the first person to get married while in orbit, tying the knot via satellite link. His missions included extensive spacewalks and crucial assembly tasks for the ISS.

3. Sergey Krikalev

Sergey Krikalev spent a total of 803 days, 9 hours, and 39 minutes in space over six missions. He holds the distinction of being the last Soviet citizen in space, as he was aboard the Mir space station during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. His expertise in engineering and space technology played a crucial role in maintaining the ISS and Mir.

4. Aleksandr Kaleri

With 769 days, 6 hours, and 38 minutes in space, Aleksandr Kaleri participated in five space missions, mainly aboard the Mir and International Space Station (ISS). His contributions include extensive studies on the effects of microgravity on the human body and helping with ISS construction efforts.

5. Sergey Avdeyev

Sergey Avdeyev, another veteran Russian cosmonaut, logged 747 days, 14 hours, and 14 minutes during his three spaceflights. He is known for setting a then-record for cumulative space time and conducting essential physics experiments, including studying radiation exposure on human physiology.

6. Oleg Kononenko

Oleg Kononenko is currently active and accumulating time in space. As of 2024, he has spent 736 days, 18 hours, and 44 minutes, with his ongoing missions expected to increase his total further. He has played a significant role in scientific experiments aboard the ISS and participated in numerous spacewalks.

7. Fyodor Yurchikhin

Fyodor Yurchikhin has spent 673 days, 20 hours, and 3 minutes in space, participating in multiple missions aboard the ISS. He has been part of key space research missions and has conducted several spacewalks, contributing to the station’s maintenance and upgrades.

8. Valery Polyakov

Valery Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight, spending 437 days straight on the Mir space station. His total space time is 678 days, 16 hours, and 32 minutes. His mission provided vital data on the psychological and physical effects of prolonged space travel, laying the groundwork for future long-duration missions, including potential Mars expeditions.

9. Anatoly Solovyev

Anatoly Solovyev has accumulated 651 days, 1 hour, and 4 minutes in space over five missions. He also holds the record for the most spacewalks, with 16 totaling over 82 hours. His experience has been critical in assembling and maintaining space station modules.

10. Sunita Williams

Sunita Williams, a NASA astronaut, has spent 286 days, 3 hours, and 41 minutes in space over multiple missions. She is known for her contributions to space research, being one of the first astronauts to test out new space habitats and vehicles. She has also conducted numerous spacewalks, setting records for female astronauts.

The majority of the longest-serving astronauts in space are Russian cosmonauts, reflecting their extensive history of space exploration. However, NASA astronauts like Sunita Williams have also made significant contributions to space missions. These astronauts have spent years aboard space stations like Mir and the ISS, contributing significantly to space research. Their missions have provided crucial insights into the effects of long-term space travel on the human body and paved the way for future deep-space exploration. With advancements in technology and upcoming missions to Mars, future astronauts may soon break these records.