NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson Breaks Record For Most Time In Space By American
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A trailblazing NASA astronaut has made history again.
Peggy Whitson broke the record for most cumulative days spent in space by an American on Monday morning.
The previous record was 534 days, two hours and 48 minutes set last year by Jeffrey Williams.
The world record — 879 days — is held by Russian Gennady Padalka.
The 57-year old Whitson, who is the only woman to serve as a station commander twice, is in the middle of her third long-duration stint on the International Space Station.
By the time she returns to earth, she will have spent 666 days in space.
As part of the celebration, Whitson received a special very long distance phone call from President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins.
Trump joked that the call was possible because of "great American equipment that works, and that is not easy."
Whitson says it's a "huge honor to break a record like this," and that it would not have been possible without the support of NASA.
Last month, Trump signed new legislation adding human exploration of Mars to NASA's mission.
Whitson said she's excited about the new legislation and said there is equipment being made now in preparation for the launch.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
