The oldest woman in space gets an extra three months in orbit: 57 year old Peggy Whitson has trip extended

• Peggy Whitson is the world's oldest and most experienced spacewoman 
• NASA flight engineer is currently in the midst of her third stint at the ISS 

 

        NASA has revealed that astronaut Peggy Whitson will remain on the International Space Station until September.

The 57-year-old astronaut arrived last November and was supposed to return to Earth in June. 

But under an agreement between NASA and the Russian Space Agency, she'll stay another three months and take advantage of an empty seat on a Soyuz capsule in the fall.

RECORD-BREAKING SPACEWOMAN: PEGGY WHITSON

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, and altogether, she's spent more than 500 days off the planet.

This, too, is more than any other woman.

On March 30, Whitson performed the eight spacewalk of her career, the most ever performed by a woman.

And, midway through the spacewalk, Whitson will surpass the current record for women of 50 hours and 40 minutes of total accumulated spacewalking time, held by former space station resident Sunita Williams.

The two men she flew up with in November will return in June without her.

This mission—her third—will now last close to 10 months. 

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.

'This is great news,' Whitson said. 

'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.'

The arrangement takes advantage of a Soyuz seat left empty by the Roscosmos decision to temporarily reduce their crew complement to two cosmonauts.

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.

The world's oldest and most experienced spacewoman, Peggy Whitson (pictured), broke another record Thursday as she floated out of the International Space Station to set up a new parking spot

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

The shielding protects against micrometeorite debris.

It was one of four shield pieces to be installed in the hole left by a newly relocated docking port. 

The bundled-up shield somehow came loose as Whitson and Shane Kimbrough worked to install micrometeorite protection over a spot left exposed when a new docking port was relocated.

Mission Control monitored the shield as it drifted away and, a couple hours later, determined it posed no risk to the 250-mile-high outpost.

It was visible in the distance as a white dot.

As Whitson and Kimbrough installed the three remaining shields, Mission Control quickly came up with a TV MacGyver-like plan for a patch.

The astronauts filled the gap using the cover that they had just removed from the relocated docking port.

The cover is made of the same material as the shielding, according to Mission Control, and just as capable of protecting against potential strikes by bits of space debris and providing thermal control. 

Pictured, U.S. astronauts Shane Kimbrough, left, and Peggy Whitson, install a shield on a relocated docking port outside of the International Space Station

The entire space station is protected, in some fashion, against possible debris strikes.

It was not immediately clear how the shield got away, said NASA spokesman Dan Huot. 

It's supposed to be tethered to the station or spacewalker at all times.

Frustration was evident in Whitson's voice as she told Mission Control about the mishap. She was delighted, though, by how well everything turned out.

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

'You guys came up with a fantastic plan - on short notice. That's amazing,' Whitson radioed.

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

Spacewalkers have lost things before, including an entire tool kit in 2008. But the getaway items are usually small, like bolts.

The lost fabric shield is relatively large: It weighs 18 pounds and, when unfolded, measures about 5 feet by 2 feet and is about 2 inches thick. 

It eventually will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up. 

The relocated docking port will serve as one of two parking spots for commercial crew capsules under development by SpaceX and Boeing. 

Kimbrough disconnected the port during a spacewalk last Friday and then flight controllers in Houston moved it to a new location Sunday.  

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

PREPARING THE NEW PARKING SPOT 

In March, astronauts on the ISS began to make preparations for the installation of the second of two parking spots for space taxis, known as the International Docking Adapters.

New crew spaceships, being designed by SpaceX and Boeing, will use them when they begin flying astronauts to the station in the coming years, as early as 2018.

Currently, the only way the world's astronauts can reach orbit is by buying a ride aboard Russia's Soyuz capsules, at $81 million per seat. 

The spacewalkers needed to hook up vital heater cables to the docking port and install shields to protect against strikes by micrometeorites.

'You guys be safe and enjoy your time out,' French astronaut Thomas Pesquet radioed from inside the space station.

This will serve as the second of two docking ports for the future SpaceX and Boeing crew capsules. 

SpaceX will launch the final piece of this particular port later this year or early next year.

Midway through Thursday's spacewalk, Whitson will surpass the current record for women of 50 hours and 40 minutes of total accumulated spacewalking time, held by former space station resident Sunita Williams. 

Williams is one of four NASA astronauts who will make the initial test flights of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner capsules. 

The first flight could occur as early as next year.

The 57-year-old Whitson has been in orbit since November. 

This is her third space station stint. 

Altogether, she's spent more than 500 days off the planet, also more than any other woman.

NASA is hoping to take advantage of an extra seat in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that's due to launch next month and return in September. A decision is expected soon

She's scheduled to return to Earth in June, but may stick around an extra three months, until September. 

NASA is hoping to take advantage of an extra seat in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that's due to launch next month and return in September. 

A decision is expected soon.

NASA, meanwhile, has indefinitely delayed a spacewalk that had been scheduled for next week. 

A shipment containing replacement parts needed for that spacewalk is on hold because of rocket concerns at Cape Canaveral, Florida; the delivery should have been there by now. 

Shipper Orbital ATK is relying on the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V to haul up the goods.

(The Mail, UK)