Oleg Kononenko, a cosmonaut born in Turkmenistan, is preparing for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the backup crew for ISS-76. He has been appointed commander of the backup crew. Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Grebyonkin is also taking part in the preparations.

The cosmonauts are undergoing extravehicular activity training, including sessions in the hydro-laboratory at the Cosmonaut Training Center. They recently completed another stage of their training programme.

At the current stage, the crew members are practising key procedures required during spacewalks. These include opening and closing the airlock hatch, moving along handrails on the ISS exterior, transporting equipment of different sizes and weights, working with cargo equipment adapters, routing cables, and connecting electrical connectors. Training in mission-specific operations is scheduled for a subsequent stage.

The main focus of the latest training session was operating ERA, a remotely controlled robotic manipulator. The device enables cosmonauts to carry out tasks outside the Russian segment of the ISS and move equipment from one location to another.

According to Oleg Kononenko, the cosmonauts practised moving towards a mock-up of the manipulator, travelling along its robotic arm, reaching the operator’s portable workstation, and performing the required procedures involving ERA. They also trained to respond to anticipated emergency scenarios that could arise while working in open space.

Oleg Kononenko was born on 21 June 1964 in the city then known as Chardzhou, now Turkmenabat. He graduated with distinction from Secondary School No. 15. His achievements have also been recognized in Turkmenistan: in 2009, he was awarded the “President’s Star” Order.

Oleg Kononenko has addressed audiences in Turkmenistan several times from aboard the International Space Station and has also taken photographs of Ashgabat at night from space.