Peggy Whitson

Peggy Whitson is an American biochemist and NASA astronaut who commanded the International Space Station and holds the record for the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

NASA: The United States government agency responsible for civilian space exploration and aeronautics research. Whitson’s astronaut career and space missions were conducted through this agency.
Expedition 5: The fifth long-duration crewed expedition aboard the International Space Station, conducted in 2002. Whitson’s first spaceflight was as a flight engineer on this expedition.
Spaceflight endurance record: A record measuring the longest cumulative or continuous duration spent in space by an individual. Whitson’s total time in orbit set the American cumulative-duration benchmark.
Biochemistry: The study of chemical processes and substances in living organisms. Whitson earned a doctorate in this field before becoming an astronaut.
Yuri Malenchenko: A Russian cosmonaut who flew six space missions and commanded the International Space Station. He commanded the station during Expedition 16, when Whitson was its commander.
Expedition 16: The sixteenth long-duration crewed expedition aboard the International Space Station, conducted in 2007–2008. Whitson commanded the station during this expedition, becoming its first female commander.
Women in space: The history and participation of women in human spaceflight. Whitson’s station command and flight record expanded women’s presence in long-duration missions.
Space station: A crewed spacecraft designed to remain in orbit and support extended human activity. The station is the orbital workplace where Whitson spent most of her mission time.
Shane Kimbrough: An American astronaut who commanded the International Space Station during Expedition 50. He succeeded Whitson as station commander during her third long-duration mission.
Expedition 50: The fiftieth long-duration crewed expedition aboard the International Space Station, conducted in 2016–2017. Whitson commanded this expedition and extended her record for cumulative time in space.

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