In photos: Record-breaking NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson

Woman strong

Celebrating International Women's Day a little early in February of 2017, ESA's Thomas Pesquet has some fun with astronaut Peggy Whitson munching on some space-grown lettuce and expresses how much he appreciates being on a team.

Working hard

During an extravehicular activity on November 24, 2007, astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander and her crewmate Daniel Tani, flight engineer aide in construction of the International Space Station. The over seven-hour spacewalk had them continue fitting the Harmony node outside the Destiny laboratory in its new position.

Practice and learn

At the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near the Johnson Space Center, astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition Five flight engineer, practices an emergency bailout training session on July 12, 2001. United Space Alliance crew trainer David Pogue and Johnson Engineering diver Marquis Gibbs assist.

Getting it done

A January 6, 2017, spacewalk during Expedition 50 took NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Shane Kimbrough to new heights on the ISS. They successfully completed the initial mission of installing new adapter plates and connecting electoral connections for three new lithium-ion batteries. They also took a photo survey of the Alpha Magnetic Spectromer, executing some get-ahead tasks as well.

Breaking down barriers

Now astronaut Peggy Whitson, pictured here as Expedition 5 flight engineer in November 2001, held several different roles at NASA beginning in 1989 before beginning her journey as an astronaut in 1996. She has flown to the International Space Station three times as of November of 2017 and she holds the record for most days spent in space by a woman.

Doing what she went to do

Between the Harmony node and Destiny laboratory, astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, worked aboard the International Space Station on January 6, 2017.

Constructing the ISS

November 24, 2007 during Expedition 16, astronaut Peggy Whitson, commander for the mission, performed an EVA with her crewmate Shane Kimbrough. Before this expedition Whitson has completed six successful spacewalks.

Big smile

Inside the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, enjoys floating around.

Fantastic job

As construction continued on the ISS, astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, completed an extravehicular activity session with cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko, flight engineer for Russia's Federal Space Agency. The pair arranged to relocate the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 and the future move of the Harmony node to its final ISS home.

Important research

Aboard the International Space Station in the Destiny laboratory, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, prepares to document the Capillary Flow Experiment Vane Gap-1. The equipment sits on the Maintenance Work Area. The experiment records the flow of fluid, specifically capillary phenomena, under the effects of microgravity.