NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson sets new record for time in space

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Peggy Whitson on 24 April 2017 set a new US record for most cumulative days spent in space.

With this, Whitson surpassed cosmonaut Jeff Williams’ record of 534 days, 2 hours and 48 minutes aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

With the recent extension of her stay at the ISS, the Expedition 51 commander has five months to rack up another record.

About Peggy Whitson

• Born on 9 February 1960, Peggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, NASA astronaut and former NASA Chief Astronaut.

• She began her NASA career in the 1980s.

• Her first space mission was in 2002, with an extended stay aboard the ISS as a member of Expedition 5.

• Her second mission as the first woman commander of the ISS with Expedition 16 was launched on 10 October 2007.

• In 2017, she became the first woman astronaut to command the International Space Station twice.

• She also holds the records for the oldest woman spacewalker, and the record for total spacewalks by a woman.

• Between trips to space, she was named chief of the astronaut office in 2009, becoming the first female to hold the position, which she remained in until 2012.