Space superwoman returning to Earth with records galore
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Astronaut Peggy Whitson is closing out a space streak unmatched by any other American.
The world’s most experienced spacewoman is due back on Earth this weekend following 9 ⁄ months at the International Space Station. Counting all her flights, she will have logged 665 days in space — more than 1 ⁄ years.
First stop tonight will be Kazakhstan as usual for a Russian Soyuz capsule touchdown, then a brief detour to Germany before heading home to storm-crippled Houston.
During her third and latest mission, which began last November, the 57-year-old biochemist became the oldest woman in space. She performed her 10th spacewalk, more than any other woman.
And she became the first woman to command the space station twice.
On the eve of her landing, Whitson said she’s craving pizza — and flush toilets. “Trust me, you don’t want to know the details,” she said via email in response to questions from the Associated Press.
A formal news conference was cancelled because of tropical storm Harvey, so email responses were the next-best thing.
She said her home in Houston is fine, but many friends and coworkers were not as fortunate. Johnson Space Center in Houston remains closed until Tuesday except for essential personnel, such as those staffing Mission Control for the space station. She said the team was sleeping on cots at the space centre at one point.
“Any trepidations I might have about returning in the aftermath of a hurricane are entirely eclipsed by all those folks keeping our mission going,” she said.