Saturday at 21:21 astronaut Peggy Whitson landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan. Thus, along with Russian cosmonaut Fyodor by urchihin and American astronaut Jack Fischer in the capsule «Union», Peggy Whitson finished his record-breaking flight.
In this final mission aboard the International space station, Whitson has spent 288 days — more than nine months. But during her career she left the planet for three a long mission, total duration of which amounted to 665 days. This term — a record among American astronauts and among women astronauts around the world.
Whitson broke the record for total time in space among NASA astronauts in April, at its 534 day, according to The Two-Way. She was congratulated by the President trump, and together they discussed the schedule for sending humans to Mars.
Whitson broke other records: she is the eldest woman in the world-astronaut (57 years), the experienced space Explorer among women (10 space walks), and she was the first woman, who twice commanded the space station, reports The Associated Press.
Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin returned on Saturday along with Whitson and generally held in space a little longer: 673 days, according to AP. The third in this mission was the American Jack Fischer, who spent 136 days in space.
During the time spent aboard the ISS, Whitson and Fisher «has contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physics and Earth science». Their work was the study of antibodies, «which could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment», and also the study of changes that affect the eyes of the astronauts in an environment with so little gravity.
It was assumed that in June, Whitson will come home, but when «Union» opened up extra space, she jumped at the chance to fly in orbit for another three months.
The day before their departure, the new commander of the space station Randy Bresnik praised the work of the astronauts: «We are indebted to you for the dedication that you guys show in the framework of the mission to explore our Universe.» Then Bracken called Whitson «american space ninja».
Peggy began working at NASA in 1989. In 1996 she began training astronauts in 2002 for the first time joined the team on the ISS. By 2008, she had already fulfilled the role of station commander — she was the first woman who received it, according to her NASA biography.
Now, when she returns home, Whitson will enjoy the earthly comforts which she is most lacking. «This access to a flush toilet. Believe me, you would not want to know the details,» said she to The Associated Press. «Pizza lingered in my mind for a month or two.»
She needs to come home to Houston for Sunday evening, AP reports. Whitson shared the information that her house was not touched in hurricane Harvey, but her colleagues, who had to sleep on the beds in the reserve areas of flight Control, could be hurt. «Any anxiety that I might experience when returning home after a hurricane, pale at the thought of the exclusion of people who continue our mission.»
And although, perhaps, it was the last space flight, Whitson, she said that it will continue to work on research programs.
«My desire to contribute to the mission of space flight increases with the years,» she said.
