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Peggy Whitson has broken Jeff Williams' record for the longest amount of time in space by a US astronaut.

Currently serving an extended stay aboard the International Space Station , Whitson passed Williams' number of 534 days, 2 hours and 48 minutes of cumulative time in space at 1.27am (ET) on April 24, claiming yet another record.

She is already the first female astronaut to command the space station , and also holds the record for the most amount of spacewalks by a female.

When she does finally return to Earth, she will have spent over 650 days in space.

Beginning her career in the 1980s, Whitson has a doctorate in biochemistry and served as deputy division chief of the Medical Sciences Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. She was officially selected as an astronaut in 1996.

"She made her first trip to the International Space Station in 2002," said Mark Garcia from NASA.

"Space shuttle Endeavour delivered her and her Expedition 5 crewmates for a 184-day stay in the four modules that made up the space station at the time. While there, she took part in 21 science investigations and became the first NASA science officer.

(Image: NASA)

"In 2008, Whitson returned as commander of Expedition 16, and was on hand for the installation of the Harmony node, the Columbus laboratory and the Kibo logistics module. She spent another 192 days in space and performed her first five spacewalks."

Since being aboard the ISS this time around, she has added another three spacewalks and is due to perform another one on May 12.

In total, she will have spent more than 53 hours outside the station in the vacuum of space.</s>She is currently on a mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and by the time she comes back down to Earth, she will have logged in a total of 650 days in space. Whitson has been at the space station since November 19, 2016. (Photo : Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

Making history isn't new to NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, but her latest record is undeniably impressive: the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

According to a report from Gizmodo, Whitson broke Jeff Williams' record of approximately 534 days, 2 hours and 48 minutes. She is currently on a mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and by the time she comes back down to Earth, she will have logged in a total of 650 days in space. Whitson has been at the space station since November 19, 2016.

The entire country celebrated the astronaut's achievement with a social media tag of #CongratsPeggy, including President Donald Trump who reached out to her via a video call from the Oval Office, according to a report from CNN.

"This is a very special day in the glorious history of American spaceflight," Trump said. "You have broken the record for the most total time spent in space by an American astronaut. That's an incredible record to break. On behalf of our nation and, frankly, on behalf of our world, I'd like to thank you."

"It's an honor for me to be representing all the folks at NASA who make space travel possible and make me setting this record feasible," Whitson said.

This is another notch on Whitson's already extraordinary belt. She's the first ever science officer of NASA as well as the first female to be the commander of the ISS, which she has done twice. Additionally, she was the first female chief of the astronaut office and logs in the most space walks of any female.

Astronaut Leland Melvin described Whitson as "kind, generous, inclusive and did everything with grace" in Gizmodo adding, "It's great to work with someone that's technically competent especially if you are flying in space but Peggy was so much more."

Indeed, she is. #CongratsPeggy!</s>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.

As part of the celebration, Whitson received a special phone call from President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins.

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.</s>Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson has just broken the record for the longest time spent in space by any American.

The 57-year-old astronaut has previously broken records for being the oldest woman in space and for being the woman who has taken the most space walks.

The Nasa flight engineer is currently in the midst of her third stint at the International Space Station, where she is investigating the medical implications of space travel.

At 57 years old, Peggy Whitson is the oldest spacewoman in the world. The NASA flight engineer is currently in the midst of her third stint at the International Space Station. Dr Whitson broke the record for the most time an American has spent in space at 1.27AM ET (6.27AM BST) on April 24. On March 30, Whitson performed the eight spacewalk of her career, the most ever performed by a woman. And, midway through the spacewalk, Whitson surpassed the current record for women of 50 hours and 40 minutes of total accumulated spacewalking time, held by former space station resident Sunita Williams.

Dr Whitson broke the record at 1.27AM ET (6.27AM BST) today, logging 535 days in orbit.

She is expecting a call from Donald Trump and Ivanka from the Oval Office on Monday later today.

Dr Whitson has overtaken US astronaut Jeff Williams, who spent a total of 534 days in space.

She said on Twitter on April 23: 'It is one of those rides that you hope never ends.

'I am so grateful for all those who helped me on each of my missions! #LifeInSpace'

The all-time record belongs to Russian astronaut Gennady Padalka, who has spent 879 days in space.

'At 1:27 a.m. ET on April 24, @AstroPeggy has officially broken @Astro_Jeff's record of 534 days in space.

'Wish her well with #CongratsPenny!'

By the time she lands back on Earth in September, Dr Whitson will have spent 666 days in orbit.

But it seems she is more concerned with her research than being a record holder.

'I'm not here because of the record,' she told ABC News earlier this month.

'I'm definitely here for conducting the science.'

Scientists are eager to monitor any changes to her body, to add to the knowledge gained from retired astronaut Scott Kelly's recent one-year flight.

Her mission on the ISS was recently extended by several months.

'This is great news,' Dr Whitson said at the time.

'I love being up here. Living and working aboard the space station is where I feel like I make the greatest contribution, so I am constantly trying to squeeze every drop out of my time here.

'Having three more months to squeeze is just what I would wish for.'

Whitson's extension will ensure a full complement of six astronauts on board the station and increase the amount of valuable astronaut time available for experiments on board the station.

'Peggy's skill and experience makes her an incredible asset aboard the space station,' said Kirk Shireman, NASA's International Space Station Program Manager.

'By extending the stay of one of NASA's most veteran astronauts, our research, our technology development, our commercial and our international partner communities will all benefit.'

Last week the world's oldest and most experienced spacewoman, broke another record as she floated out of the International Space Station to set up a new parking spot.

It was the eighth spacewalk of her career, the most ever performed by a woman.

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

But, at around 10:30 a.m., the spacewalking astronauts lost an important piece of shielding needed for the International Space Station, forcing them to carry out an impromptu patch.

The cloth bundle floated away Thursday midway through the spacewalk.

Whitson immediately reported the mishap to Mission Control, which tracked the item as it drifted away.

It was one of four shield pieces to be installed in the hole left by a newly relocated docking port.</s>NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson added another feat to her already record-breaking career on Monday when she became the U.S. astronaut with the most cumulative time in space. She broke the record by logging 534 days, two hours, and 49 minutes (and counting) away from Earth, according to NASA .

Whitson is currently on her third long-duration stay at the International Space Station. She launched last November and is expected to finish her mission in September.

When she returns to Earth, she will have spent more than 650 days in space throughout her groundbreaking career. In 2008, Whitson became the first woman to command the space station, and on April 9 became the first woman to command it twice. In March, she claimed the record for most spacewalks by a woman. And at 57, Whitson is the oldest female astronaut .

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Whitson started working for NASA in the 1980s. With a doctorate in biochemistry, she held several research-related jobs before being named project scientist of the Shuttle-Mir Program in 1992. She also worked as deputy division chief of the medical sciences division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and as co-chair of the U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group before being selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Her first trip to the International Space Station occurred in 2002 when space shuttle Endeavour delivered her and five crewmates for a 184-day mission. On that first trip, she took part in 21 science investigations and became the first NASA science officer. In 2008, Whitson returned to the ISS as commander of Expedition 16, when she logged another 192 days in space and performed her first five spacewalks.

On her current stay at the ISS, Whitson has completed another three spacewalks, bringing her total time spent outside the space station to more than 53 hours.

NASA says President Donald Trump and First Daughter Ivanka Trump will call the ISS from the Oval Office on Monday morning to congratulate Whitson on her record-breaking feat.</s>Nearly 15 years after her first space launch, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has now spent more time off-planet than any other American, at more than 534 days. Whitson, 57, is a biochemist who has twice commanded the International Space Station.

"It is one of those rides that you hope never ends," Whitson tweeted last night. "I am so grateful for all those who helped me on each of my missions!"

Her current ride will last for at least another five months, due to an extension of Whitson's mission that's projected to leave her with more than 650 days in space, NASA says.

Early this morning, Whitson officially broke the NASA record of 534 days in orbit that was set last year by Jeff Williams. To mark her accomplishment, she received a phone call from President Trump at 10 a.m. ET Monday. At the end of that live-streamed conversation, Whitson performed a forward flip.

In addition to her new time-in-orbit mark, Whitson has spent more than 53 hours outside of an airlock, engaged in spacewalks that added modules to the space station, among other duties.

Whitson was 56 when she left for her third long-term mission aboard the space station last November, making her the oldest U.S. woman in space, as we reported.

Literally and figuratively, it's been a long journey for Whitson since she started work at NASA in the 1980s. Back then, she was a researcher who supported space missions from the ground. She was named project scientist of the Shuttle-Mir Program in 1992. Four years later, she was selected as an astronaut, and in 2002, she made her first trip to the International Space Station.

Whitson is scheduled to return to Earth's surface in September.</s>Nearly 15 years after her first space launch, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has now spent more time off-planet than any other American, at more than 534 days. Whitson, 57, is a biochemist who has twice commanded the International Space Station.

"It is one of those rides that you hope never ends," Whitson tweeted last night. "I am so grateful for all those who helped me on each of my missions!"

Her current ride will last for at least another five months, due to an extension of Whitson's mission that's projected to leave her with more than 650 days in space, NASA says.

Early this morning, Whitson officially broke the NASA record of 534 days in orbit that was set last year by Jeff Williams. To mark her accomplishment, she received a phone call from President Trump at 10 a.m. ET Monday.

"That's an incredible record to break," Trump said, congratulating Whitson as he spoke from his desk in the Oval Office, where he was seated alongside his daughter Ivanka and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins.

"How does it feel to have broken such a big and important record?" the president asked.

"Well, it's actually a huge honor to break a record like this," Whitson said. "It's an honor for me, basically to be representing all the folks at NASA who make space flight possible and who make me setting this record feasible."

Their talk soon turned to Trump's plan to send people to Mars, with Whitson saying that at NASA, "we're excited about the missions to Mars in the 2030s."

Moments later, Trump asked Whitson, "what do you see a timing for actually sending humans to Mars? Is there a schedule? And when would you see that happening?"

When Whitson repeated her mention of the 2030s — citing space flight's need for "a lot of time and money" — Trump jokingly replied, "Well, we want to try and do it during my first term or, at worst, during my second term. So we'll have to speed that up a little bit, okay?"

Earlier, when Trump asked Whitson," What are we learning by being in space?" the astronaut replied by discussing studies about the human body's reaction to living in microgravity, and how to support life during a multiyear Mars mission.

Describing a solar-powered system that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, Whitson said, "But water is such a precious resource up here that we also are cleaning up our urine and making it drinkable. And it's really not as bad as it sounds."

"Well, that's good. I'm glad to hear that" Trump said, adding, "Better you than me."

She had first been inspired to pursue a career in science at NASA, Whitson told Ivanka Trump, by the Apollo program.

"But I don't really think it became a goal until I graduated from high school, when the first female astronauts were selected," she added.

At the end of their live-streamed conversation, Whitson and her fellow astronaut Col. Jack Fisher performed forward flips in the space station.

In addition to her new time-in-orbit mark, Whitson has spent more than 53 hours outside of an airlock, engaged in spacewalks that added modules to the space station, among other duties.

Whitson was 56 when she left for her third long-term mission aboard the space station last November, making her the oldest U.S. woman in space, as we reported.

Literally and figuratively, it's been a long journey for Whitson since she started work at NASA in the 1980s. Back then, she was a researcher who supported space missions from the ground. She was named project scientist of the Shuttle-Mir Program in 1992. Four years later, she was selected as an astronaut, and in 2002, she made her first trip to the International Space Station.

Whitson is scheduled to return to Earth's surface in September.</s>By Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronaut Peggy Whitson broke the U.S. record Monday for most time in space and talked up Mars during a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump.

The International Space Station’s commander surpassed the record of 534 days, two hours and 48 minutes for most accumulated time in space by an American.

“This is a very special day in the glorious history of American spaceflight,” Trump said. His daughter Ivanka also offered congratulations to Whitson from the Oval Office.

Whitson said it’s “a huge honor” to break such a record. “It’s an exciting time” as NASA prepares for human expeditions to Mars in the 2030s, included in new legislation signed by Trump last month. She called the space station “a key bridge” between living on Earth and traveling into deep space, and she singled out the station’s recycling system that transforms astronauts’ urine into drinking water.

“It’s really not as bad as it sounds,” she assured the president.

“Well, that’s good, I’m glad to hear that,” he replied. “Better you than me.”

Whitson already was the world’s most experienced spacewoman and female spacewalker and, at 57, the oldest woman in space. By the time she returns to Earth in September, she’ll have logged 666 days in orbit over three flights.

The world record — 879 days — is held by Russian Gennady Padalka. Whitson broke the NASA cumulative record set last year by astronaut Jeffrey Williams; Scott Kelly holds the U.S. record for consecutive days in space — 340.

Whitson is also the first woman to command the space station twice and the only woman to have led NASA’s astronaut corps. Behind her was a banner that read: “Congrats Peggy!! New U.S. High-Time Space Ninja.” The sign arrived Saturday on the commercial cargo ship, the S.S. John Glenn — barely in time for Monday’s celebration.

NASA astronaut Jack Fischer, who arrived at the space station last week and took part in Monday’s call, said the space station is “by far the best example of international cooperation.”

Whitson told the president that spaceflight takes a lot of time and money, so getting to Mars will require collaboration from other countries to succeed. NASA is building the hardware right now to test a new rocket that will carry astronauts farther from Earth than ever before, she said.

“Well, we want to try and do it during my first term or, at worst, during my second term, so we’ll have to speed that up a little bit, OK?” Trump replied.

The debut of the mega rocket is still more than a year away — at least. The date will depend on whether astronauts are on board for the test flight, which could hoist the new Orion capsule to the vicinity of the moon.

Both Whitson and Fischer raised a hand when Trump asked which one of them was ready to go to Mars.

Joining Trump in the Oval Office was astronaut Kate Rubins, who last summer became the first person in space to perform entire DNA decoding, or sequencing. She said she used a device the size of a cellphone for the job, and noted that such sequencing can detect microbes aboard spacecraft and monitor astronaut health.

“That’s fantastic,” Trump said. “I’ve been dealing with politicians so much, I’m so much more impressed with these people, you have no idea.”

Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey and Vivian Salama contributed to this report.</s>With one small step for woman, and one giant leap for mankind, a NASA astronaut broke a major record on Monday.

Peggy Whitson, Ph.D. officially set the record for total number of total days spent in space by an American.

The day will be recognized by an early-morning, presidential phone call from Earth to space by President Donald Trump and his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

She will have spent a cumulative total of 534 days (nearly one year and six months) in space.

Whitson is already the most experienced female space walker in history, having spent more time clocking hours on space walks than any other woman.

Whitson took charge of the International Space Station in early April and became the commander of Expedition 51.

She had previously been commander of Expedition 16 in 2008.

"Some folks have problems sleeping, but I love it up here,” Whitson said. “I feel like I'm more comfortable here than I am on a bed on Earth."

But life isn't entirely perfect 250-miles from space.

"I get a little tired of the food up here after a while,” she said.

Whitson's current voyage includes experiments studying the effectiveness of cancer-fighting drugs as well as stem-cell research.

"Scientists on the ground are looking at if they can proliferate stem cells better or differently in zero gravity," Whitson said.

The biochemist was a postdoctoral fellow at Rice University before joining NASA in the mid-1980s, and credits her achievements to the strong work ethic she learned as a child up on her family's Iowa farm.

"My parents are the hardest working people I ever knew,” Whitson said. “They always worked every day, all day, and they had to come up with solutions to make things work."

Whitson acknowledges there may be young women who consider her a role model, but doesn't feel her accomplishments are any more impressive simply because she's a woman.

"It'll be a real mark when we don't have to talk about it." she said.

Whitson isn’t expected to return to Earth until September. She will have been in space for 289 days this trip, by the time she returns to Earth.</s>INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Peggy Whitson has broken the record for most days in space by a US astronaut.

Dr Whitson already holds records for the most spacewalks carried out by a woman astronaut and is the first woman to command the International Space Station (ISS) twice.

Now she's beaten the record previously set by Jeff Williams, who had a total of 534 days in space.

It's thought President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka will call Dr Whitson on Monday to congratulate her.
Peggy Whitson, commander of the International Space Station (ISS), breaks the record for most total days spent in space by any NASA astronaut, at more than 534 days.