NASA astronaut breaks US space record

She’s out of this world!

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has broken yet another space record – this time for the most time spent in orbit by an American.

Early Monday, Whitson surpassed the previous record of 534 days, two hours and 48 minutes set last year by Jeffrey Williams.

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

President Trump made a long-distance call to Whitson in space to congratulate her on accomplishing the feat.

“Today commander Whitson you have broken the record for the most total time spent in space by an American astronaut – 534 days and counting,” the president said. “That’s an incredible record to break and on behalf of our nation and frankly on behalf of the world, I’d like to congratulate you. That’s really something.”

Whitson responded: “It’s actually a huge honor to break a record like this but it’s an honor for me basically to be representing all the folks at NASA who make this space flight possible and who make me setting this record feasible.”

The Iowa-born Whitson, a biochemist, is already the world’s most experienced spacewoman and oldest woman in space at age 57.

She’s performed a record of eight spacewalks in her career and, in March, earned the title of most accumulated time spent spacewalking for women with just over 53 hours.

Whitson will return to Earth in September and by then will have logged 666 days in space over three flights.

The world record for most time spent in orbit – 879 days — is held by Russian Gennady Padalka.

With Post Wires