Peggy Whitson — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Accumulated 695 days in space, more than any other American or woman.
Serves as an astronaut for Axiom Space, commanding Axiom Mission 2 (2023) and Axiom Mission 4 (2025).
Retired from NASA in 2018 after serving as the 13th Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Became the first woman to command the International Space Station (ISS) on Expedition 16 (2007-2008).
Holds records for the oldest woman spacewalker and most spacewalks by a woman (10).
Earned a doctorate degree in biochemistry from Rice University in 1986.

Biography

Peggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher and astronaut currently working for Axiom Space. She holds the record for the most days in space by any American or woman, with a total of 695 days across her missions. Whitson is also recognized for holding the records for the oldest woman spacewalker and the most spacewalks by a woman, with 10 spacewalks and a cumulative EVA time of 60 hours, 21 minutes. She is projected to be the oldest woman to orbit the Earth at age 65 in 2025.