Peggy Whitson

Peggy Whitson is an astronaut.

She grew up on a farm. She watched the moon landing on TV. This made her want to fly.

Peggy has spent many days in space. She spent 695 days up there. This is a lot of time!

She was a leader in space. She led the big space station. She was the first woman to do this twice.

Peggy also goes for walks in space. She has done ten of these walks. She is a great explorer.

Peggy Whitson is a famous American astronaut.

She grew up on a farm in Iowa. As a child, she watched the moon landing on TV. This inspired her to join NASA. Peggy studied biology and chemistry. She even earned a doctorate degree. A doctorate is the highest level of study in a subject.

Peggy has spent a lot of time in space. She spent 695 days in orbit. This is more than any other American or woman.

She was a great leader. Peggy was the first woman to command the International Space Station twice. She was also the first woman to be the Chief of the Astronaut Office. This is the most senior job for NASA astronauts.

Peggy is also an expert at spacewalks. We call these EVAs. An EVA is a walk outside a spacecraft.

Peggy has done ten EVAs. She spent over 60 hours walking in space. She is still the oldest woman to orbit the Earth. She did this in 2025 at age 65.

Peggy Whitson is a famous American astronaut and researcher.

She has spent a huge amount of time living in space. In total, she has spent 695 days in orbit. This is more days than any other woman or American. She also works for a company called Axiom Space. Her many achievements have made her a leader in space science. She was even named one of the most influential people in 2018.

Being an astronaut involves many different kinds of hard jobs. Peggy has worked as a commander on the International Space Station. She was also the first woman to lead the NASA Astronaut Corps. This role is called the Chief of the Astronaut Office. She has also performed many EVAs, which are walks outside a spacecraft. These spacewalks are very important for fixing and building the station.

Peggy has completed ten of these spacewalks. She spent over 60 hours working outside the station.

Peggy's journey to the stars began with a dream. She grew up on a farm in Beaconsfield, Iowa. Her parents, Keith and Beth, were farmers. In 1969, she watched the first Moon landing on television. This moment inspired her to study science. She earned a degree in biology and chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981. Later, she earned a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in 1986.

Her career in space has been full of many firsts. In 2002, she joined Expedition 5 to live on the space station. During Expedition 16 in 2007, she became the first woman to command the station. In 2017, she became the first woman to command the station twice. During her 2016 mission, she broke the record for time spent in space by a NASA astronaut. She even received a phone call from the President of the United States.

Even after retiring from NASA in 2018, Peggy's work continues. She returned to space as a commander for Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. She also commanded Axiom Mission 4 in 2025. At age 65, she set a record in 2025. She is still the oldest woman to ever orbit the Earth. Her life shows how science and curiosity can take you anywhere.

Peggy Annette Whitson is a prominent American astronaut and biochemistry researcher. She has spent a total of 695 days in space. This is a record for any American or any woman. Whitson has also held several leadership roles within NASA. She served as the 13th Chief of the Astronaut Office. This is the most senior position in the NASA Astronaut Corps. Currently, she works as a consultant and leader for Axiom Space.

Whitson's career involved complex scientific research and station management. During her first mission, Expedition 5 in 2002, she served as a science officer. She conducted 21 investigations in human life sciences and microgravity sciences. Microgravity refers to the condition of weightlessness in space. She also installed the Mobile Base System and various truss segments. These parts are essential structures for the International Space Station (ISS). She used the station's remote manipulator system to complete these tasks.

Whitson's missions included several historic leadership milestones. In 2007, during Expedition 16, she became the first woman to command the ISS. In 2017, she became the first woman to command the station twice. She also became the first woman to serve as NASA's Chief Astronaut in 2009. This role was significant because she was the first non-pilot to hold it. Her leadership helped manage the operations of the entire Astronaut Corps. She held this position until she returned to active flight status in 2012.

Space exploration requires performing Extravehicular Activities, or EVAs. An EVA is a spacewalk where an astronaut exits a spacecraft.

Whitson has performed 10 total EVAs throughout her career. Her cumulative EVA time is 60 hours and 21 minutes. This places her in seventh place for total EVA time. She also holds the record for the oldest woman spacewalker. These walks are vital for maintaining the ISS. Whitson used them to install shielding and replace electrical components.

Whitson's journey began with a childhood interest in space. She grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, Iowa. Her parents, Keith and Beth, were farmers. In 1969, she watched the first Moon landing on television. This event inspired her to pursue a career in science. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry in 1981. Later, she earned a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in 1986.

Her academic background prepared her for her work as a research biochemist.

Her later missions demonstrated incredible endurance. During Expedition 50, 51, and 52, she stayed in space for 289 days. This was her longest single space flight. At age 56, she was the oldest woman ever in space at that time. She also broke the record for the most cumulative time in space by a NASA astronaut. This achievement earned her a televised phone call from the White House. In 2025, at age 65, she set a record as the oldest woman to orbit the Earth.

Whitson continues to contribute to human spaceflight through Axiom Space. She served as the commander for Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. She also commanded Axiom Mission 4 in 2025. Her work helps bridge the gap between NASA and commercial spaceflight. She currently serves as the Vice President of Human Space Flight for Axiom. Her career connects biochemistry, engineering, and leadership. She remains a central figure in the exploration of the cosmos.