Peggy Whitson

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FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2016 file photo, U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), speaks with her relatives prior the launch of Soyuz MS-3 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. On Friday, June 15, 2018, NASA announced Whitson, who has spent more time off the planet than any other American, has retired. The 58-year-old biochemist joined NASA as a researcher in 1986 and became an astronaut in 1996. Her last spaceflight was in 2017. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

NASA’s record-breaking spacewoman retires as astronaut

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

US astronaut to visit West Virginia schools to empower girls

Associated Press

The Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft lands with Expedition 52 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. Astronaut Whitson returned to Earth late Saturday (in the U.S.), wrapping up a record-breaking flight that catapulted her to first place for U.S. space endurance. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Record-breaking Astronaut Peggy Whitson returns to Earth

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this image from video made available by NASA, departing astronaut Peggy Whitson hugs Paolo Nespoli aboard the International Space Station during preparations for a return to Earth by her, Jack Fischer and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (NASA via AP)

The Latest: Space travelers are relaxing in Kazakhstan

Associated Press

In this image from video made available by NASA, departing astronaut Peggy Whitson hugs Paolo Nespoli aboard the International Space Station during preparations for a return to Earth by her, Jack Fischer and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (NASA via AP)

NASA’s space champ returns to Earth, logs 665 days aloft

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this Dec. 8, 2016 photo made available by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson floats through a tangle of cables inside the Columbus module aboard the International Space Station. Whitson was operating the Fluids System Servicer to refill coolant loops in multiple modules on the U.S. segment of the station. (NASA via AP)

Space superwoman returning to Earth with records galore

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this NASA provided frame from video, NASA astronaut Jack Fischer works to install antennas at the International Space Station while astronaut Peggy Whitson, not pictured, works on repairs Tuesday, May 23, 2017. (NASA via AP)

Spacewalking astronauts pull off urgent station repairs

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

This July 19, 2011 photo of the International Space Station was taken from the space shuttle Atlantis after it left the orbiting complex. NASA ordered up urgent spacewalking repairs at the International Space Station. On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Americans Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer will venture out to replace a data relay box that broke over the weekend. (NASA via AP)

NASA orders up urgent spacewalking repairs at space station

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

This still image provided by NASA shows astronauts Jack Fischer, left, and Peggy Whitson on a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Friday, May 12, 2017. An equipment water leak has shortened the spacewalk. During preparations earlier in the morning, water leaked from the connection point between an umbilical hose and Fischer's suit. The hose is one of two that provide water, oxygen, power, cooling and communications for astronauts before they float outside.(NASA via AP)

Astronauts ace station’s 200th spacewalk, shortened by leak

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this Jan. 13, 2017, file photo made available by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson, center, floats inside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station with Thomas Pesquet, left, and Shane Kimbrough before their spacewalk. Early Monday, April 24, 2017, the International Space Station commander surpassed the 534-day, two-hour-and-48-minute record set last year by Jeffrey Williams for most accumulated time in orbit by an American. Whitson already was the world’s most experienced spacewoman and female spacewalker and, at age 57, the oldest woman ever in space. (NASA via AP, File)

Donald Trump congratulates astronaut Peggy Whitson on space record

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

In this Jan. 13, 2017, file photo made available by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson, center, floats inside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station with Thomas Pesquet, left, and Shane Kimbrough before their spacewalk. Early Monday, April 24, 2017, the International Space Station commander surpassed the 534-day, two-hour-and-48-minute record set last year by Jeffrey Williams for most accumulated time in orbit by an American. Whitson already was the world’s most experienced spacewoman and female spacewalker and, at age 57, the oldest woman ever in space. (NASA via AP, File)

Astronaut breaks US space record, gets call from Trump

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this Thursday, April 13, 2017 image from video made available by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson speaks during an interview aboard the International Space Station. The commander of the ISS says that five months into her current mission, she’s still not bored. At 57, she's the oldest woman to fly in space and is on the verge of setting a U.S. record for most accumulated time in space. (NASA via AP)

Record-setting astronaut thrilled with bonus time in space

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

In this Jan. 13, 2017 photo made available by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson, center, floats inside the Quest airlock of the International Space Station with Thomas Pesquet, left, and Shane Kimbrough before their spacewalk. On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, NASA announced that Whitson will remain on the ISS until September 2017, adding three months to her original mission. (NASA via AP)

Veteran NASA spacewoman getting 3 extra months in orbit

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 file photo, U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station, waves from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz MS-3 spaceship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. On Thursday, March 30, 2017, Whitson set a record for the most spacewalks by a woman, eight, as she works on preparations for a new docking port on the ISS. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

Spacewalkers lose piece of shielding, use patch instead

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

This still image taken from NASA shows NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson during a space walk at the International Space Station on Thursday, March 30, 2017. Whitson, the world's oldest and most experienced spacewoman has just set another record, her eighth spacewalk. Whitson and her spacewalking partner, Shane Kimbrough need to complete prep work on a docking port. (NASA via AP)

The Latest: Spacewalking astronauts salvage job, back inside

Associated Press

In this still image taken from video provided by NASA, astronaut Peggy Whitson takes a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Friday, Jan. 6, 2016. Whitson and Commander Shane Kimbrough went spacewalking to hook up fancy new batteries on the International Space Station's sprawling power grid.(NASA via AP)

Spacewalking astronauts upgrade station with new batteries

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press

Whither astronauts? Corps shrinks as shuttles stop

By MARCIA DUNN - Associated Press