Prepare To Feel Inferior: Here's How NASA's Peggy Whitson Is A Space Record-Breaking Machine

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is a woman on a mission to break as many space-related records as she can. If her cumulative stints aboard the ISS are anything to go by, Whitson will be breaking at least one more record before she goes home.

NASA

1.?First Female ISS Commander

When Whitson launched to the ISS for her second mission in 2007, as part of Expedition 2007, she became the first ever female commander of the space station.

2.?Most Spacewalks

During her eighth spacewalk on March 31 this year, Whitson set two new records. She broke the record for the most number of spacewalks by a female astronaut, beating Sunita Williams’ record of 6, as well as beating the Indian-descent astronaut’s record for most hours on spacewalks with a total of 53 hours and 22 minutes

"I love being up here," Whitson said. "Living and working aboard the space station is where I feel like I make the greatest contribution, so I am constantly trying to squeeze every drop out of my time here. Having three more months to squeeze is just what I would wish for."

3. Only Two-Time Woman Commander

Now that her fellow cosmonauts on board the ISS, Russia’s Oleg Novitskiy and Thomas Pesquet from the ESA, are setting off for home, Whitson has been made commander of the space station once more. This also makes her the only female astronaut to hold the post twice.

4. Most Days In Space By A Female Astronaut

In addition, Peggy Whitson is set to rack up the most number of days spent in space by any American astronaut. On April 24, she will break the US record of 534 days, held by NASA’s Jeff WIlliams, having long since shattered the same record for female astronauts. By the time she departs the ISS after her extended mission deadline in September, Whitson will have accumulated a whopping 665 days spent in space. Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka is currently the most experienced flier, with a total of 878 days in orbit.