Why Peggy Whitson is making headlines

WHO’S WHITSON?
Whitson is the commander of the International Space Station, the first woman to command the space station.

OK, WHAT ABOUT WHITSON?
Her space record is undeniably impressive. The 57-year-old is currently in space on her third longduration space flight. This year, Whitson became the first woman astronaut to command the ISS twice.

THAT’S SOMETHING!
That’s not all. On April 24, Whitson broke the record for longest time spent in space by any NASA astronaut. The Iowa native broke the record by surpassing the 534-day record held by Jeff Williams

WHAT ABOUT HER SPACEWALKS?
After completion of her eighth EVA in March, Whitson now holds the records for the oldest woman spacewalker, and the record for total spacewalks by a woman, surpassing Sunita Williams, who has completed 7.

THAT IS IMPRESSIVE INDEED!
It is. On Monday, Whitson made the first ultra-high-definition live video from the ISS and people on earth got to watch it live.

GO WHITSON.
After her feat, Whitson received a televised phone call from the Oval Office from US President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and fellow astronaut Kate Rubins

WHEN IS SHE COMING BACK?
By the time of Whitson’s scheduled return to the surface of Earth in September 2017, she will have spent 666 days aboard the orbiting lab. The global record for the same is currently held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, who had spent a whopping 879 days in space.

SHE'S DEFINITELY SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US HERE.
Yes, she is a striking example for everyone, especially women — allowing them to break new ground alongside men on the forefront of space technology and exploration.