Mount Ayr graduate preps for third space expedition

Peggy Whitson of Beaconsville was nine years old when she watched the first man walk on the moon, sparking her interest in space exploration.

In 1978, Whitson graduated from Mount Ayr High School, the same year National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected the first female astronauts.

And now, she is preparing for her third long-duration trip to the International Space Station (ISS) for Expedition 50 and 51. The flight is scheduled for December 2016.

“I will be launching from the right seat,” Whitson said. “Once we get to the space station, I will be the flight engineer.”

As the engineer for Expedition 50, Whitson will perform routine maintenance to help keep ISS functioning. She will also be conducting research for scientists all over the world.

Halfway through her trip, Whitson will become the commander of Expedition 51. She will continue to help with research and the additional responsibilities of being in charge of the crew.

She has already accumulated 377 days in space from her previous two trips, more than any other woman. She has also performed six spacewalks, adding up to 39 hours and 46 minutes.

“Having a space walk is one of the neatest privileges in the world,” Whitson said. “To be out in a space suit is almost like you are in your own personal space craft. It is an amazing experience to look down and watch Earth pass by at 17,500 mph. It is hard to explain how special that is, to have a bird’s eye view of everything.”

Returning to space

From October 2009 to July 2012, Whitson served as the Chief of the Astronaut Corps. She was responsible for mission preparation and orbit support.

“I stepped down as chief so I could have the opportunity to go back into space,” Whitson said. “I have never had a job that is more satisfying on a day-to-day basis. It is gratifying, the feeling of being involved in the work at the space station. I am looking forward to going back again.”

While the crew does not have specific information on the details of their mission yet, Whitson said there will be two visiting space vessels bringing supplies and robotic research equipment.

“Having done it twice before, I know where to focus my efforts and not get distracted,” Whitson said. “We spend a couple of years preparing. Our training focus is a lot of safety, how to work with the crew during emergencies, which you hope you never have to do.”

Whitson added they spend a lot of time working with new equipment and preparing for the research they will be conducting while in space.

In her previous expeditions, Whitson worked with a three-person crew. This trip will have six crew members.

Her path

Whitson took a double major in biology and chemistry at Iowa Wesleyan University in 1981. She continued her education at Rice University, earning her doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in 1985.

Whitson was selected as an astronaut candidate in April 1996 and started training in August 1996. After completing two years of training and evaluations, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Planning Branch.

She was selected to be part of the Expedition 5 crew that launched June 5, 2002, for the ISS. She helped install the Mobile Base System and conducted personal research on an experiment involving kidney stone development while in space.

“You end up with increased minerals in urine, which can lead to kidney stones,” Whitson said. “That’s pretty serious, because it could cause us to abort a flight sometime.”

Whitson logged 184 days, 22 hours and 14 minutes in space on her first flight.

Upon her return, she served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office before being named Chief of the Station Operations Branch in March 2005.

Her second long-duration trip to the ISS was aboard Expedition 16 in April 2008. She was the commander of the expedition, overseeing the first expansion of the station’s living and working space.

Whitson was the first female commander of the ISS.

On her third trip, Whitson said she is excited to see the changes that have been made to the station. It has supported human life for more than 15 years. One addition is an attachment with a 360 degree view of Earth called the Cupola.

Whitson currently resides in Houston with her husband, Clarence Sams.