Peggy A. Whitson is the American with the most accumulated time in space. Whitson became the first female astronaut to take command the International Space Station not once but two times. Whitson broke the record for cumulative total days spent in space by any NASA astronaut, at more than 534 days. On April 24, 2017 broke the NASA record. On her return to Earth on September 3, 2017, Whitson’s total accrued 665 days in orbit. For reference Whitson’s total accumulated time in space might be equivalent of a typical round trip to Mars. Whitson currently also holds the record of more time in space than any other American and any other woman worldwide.
Photo Date: 06/24/09
Peggy Whitson Official EMU Portrait Credit NASA
Although this record is still less than Polyakov total accumulated time in space, several other people have stayed longer. The ability to stay for extended amounts of time in Space aboard space stations has allowed key research to be done on the effects of prolonged space travel.
Graduated from Mt. Ayr Community High School, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, in 1978; received a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1985.
