Astronaut Peggy Whitson has on Tuesday broke the record for most days spent in space by any astronaut. Whitson also holds the record for being the woman to have carried out the highest number of spacewalks. She also is the first woman to command an International Space Station (ISS) two times. The record was held previously by Jeff Wilson who spent 534 days in the space.
At 1:27 a.m. ET on April 24, @AstroPeggy has officially broken @Astro_Jeff‘s record of 534 days in space. Wish her well with #CongratsPeggy! pic.twitter.com/ylZtOwt4lA
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) 24 April 2017
President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump called Dr. Whitson to congratulate her on the record. Trump, speaking to Peggy said it was an achievement and a “glorious day in the history of space flight”.
Join me in congratulating @NASA‘s @AstroPeggy by using the hashtag #CongratsPeggy! Earlier today: https://t.co/z1pte6dgD0 pic.twitter.com/8AcmargFGP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 24 April 2017
He added, “Today Commander Whitson, you have broken the record for a total time spent in space by an American astronaut – 534 days and counting.” The President also said, “That’s an incredible record to break and on behalf of our nation, and frankly on behalf of the world, I’d like to congratulate you. That is really something.”
It is one of those rides that you hope never ends. I am so grateful for all those who helped me on each of my missions! #LifeInSpace pic.twitter.com/msjKSg6WWH
— Peggy Whitson (@AstroPeggy) 23 April 2017
Donald Trump went ahead and questioned Dr. Whitson how she felt about her achievement. To which she replied, “It’s actually a huge honor to break a record like this but it’s an honor for me to be representing all the folks at NASA who make the space flight possible, who make me setting this record feasible. It’s a very exciting time to be at NASA. We’re excited about the missions to Mars in the 2030s. We actually have hardware on the ground being built for the SLS rocket for the test flights, which will eventually take us there. I’m so proud of the team.”
Dr. Whitson, 57, also holds the record for being the oldest woman to have gone to space. She also holds the record for longest time spent in space by any woman.
Born in Iowa, Whitson holds an advanced degree in biochemistry and has worked for NASA in several prominent medical science and research positions. She was then selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996. After going to space in 2002, she also became the first woman to command the ISS in 2007.
