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Hero of Turkmenistan, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko took command of the International Space Station (ISS), the press service of the “Roscosmos” state corporation reported.
“Today, the world record holder for the total duration of space flights, Oleg Kononenko, took command of the International Space Station from ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen”, - the statement said.
The Danish cosmonaut handed his colleague a symbolic key to the station. The crew then rang the ship's bell in the traditional manner.
Kononenko will command the space station until the end of September this year. By this time, he will bring his world record for total stay in space to 1 110 days.
Earlier, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov congratulated native of Turkmenistan Oleg Kononenko on the world record, noting the determination and firmness of the will of the astronaut.
“We in Turkmenistan are proud that our compatriot, born and raised on ancient Turkmen soil, became an outstanding space explorer and reached hitherto unprecedented levels in his noble profession”, - wrote the head of the highest body of people’s power of Turkmenistan in his congratulatory message to Oleg Kononenko.