No American Has Spent More Time in Space than Commander Peggy Whitson

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has logged more cumulative time in space than any other American, overtaking the previous record-holder, Jeff Williams, at 1:27 AM EDT on Monday, April 24. To mark the occasion, on Monday morning, President Donald Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins phoned her aboard the ISS.

Whitson, who is the current commander of the International Space Station (ISS), has spent 534 days orbiting our planet (and counting), over the course of three long-duration stays on the ISS.

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In the 20-minute phone call, Whitson said that it was “a huge honor” to become the most experienced American astronaut, and that she was proud to represent “all the folks at NASA who make spaceflight possible [and who make] setting this record feasible.”

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