Oldest spacewoman in the world sets records

But mission didn’t go to plan

The world’s oldest and most experienced spacewoman has broken another record as she floated out of the International Space Station to set up a new parking spot.

Peggy Whitson set a record for the most spacewalks by awoman – eight – and the most accumulated time spent spacewalking – well over 50 hours.

Ms Whitson, 57, and her spacewalking partner, station commander Shane Kimbrough, ventured out to complete prep work on a docking port.

They carried out an impromptu patch job outside the International Space Station, after losing a vital piece of cloth shielding when it floated away.

The bundled-up shield somehow came loose as Whitson and Kimbrough worked to instal micrometeorite protection over a spot left exposed when a new docking port was relocated.

Mission Control monitored the shield as it drifted away and, a couple hours later, determined it posed norisk to the250-mile-high outpost. Itwasvisible in the distance as a white dot.

As Whitson and Kimbrough installed the three remaining shields, Mission Control quickly came up with a plan for a patch. The astronauts filled the gap using the cover that they had just removed from the relocated docking port.

It was not immediately clear how the shield got away, saidNasa spokesman DanHuot. It is supposed to be tethered to the station or spacewalker at all times.

Frustration was evident in Whitson’s voice as she toldMission Control about the mishap. She was delighted, though, by how well everything turned out.

“You guys came up with a fantastic plan – on short notice. That’s amazing,” Whitson radioed.

NASA: Kimbrough and Whitson, above, work on the outside of the space station