We all love to swoon over sci-fi Hollywood blockbusters like Interstellar and Gravity. But do we know what it feels like to actually work in outer space? Here is the story of Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the commander of the current crew on board the International Space Station, who has broken the record for the longest time spent in space with 804 days. The 57-year-old former Russian Air Force officer beat the old record of 803 days, nine hours and 41 minutes set by fellow cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev (now retired) across six missions from 1998 to 2005.

Padalka with astronaut Terry Virts aboard the ISS | Source: Daily Mail

"The record is official. Gennady Padalka has become the man who spent the most time in space," confirmed a spokesman for the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos.

The veteran space walker started his illustrious career with a training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 1989. From June 1989 to January 1991, he attended basic space training and in 1991 was qualified as a test-cosmonaut.

Padalka is seen left above a stunning view of Earth | Source: Daily Mail