President Donald Trump congratulated NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson from the Oval Office on Monday on her record-breaking stay aboard the International Space Station.
Early Monday morning, Whitson officially set the US record for most cumulative days in space, surpassing astronaut Jeff Williams’ record of 534 days, according to NASA.
Whitson arrived at the space station for her current stint on November 19, 2016, and is due to return to Earth in September.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump, alongside his daughter, Ivanka, and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, spoke via video with Whitson and fellow astronaut Jack Fischer.
“This is a very special day in the glorious history of American spaceflight,” Trump said. “You have broken the record for the most total time spent in space by an American astronaut. That’s an incredible record to break.”
“On behalf of our nation and, frankly, on behalf of our world, I’d like to thank you,” Trump continued.
“It’s actually a huge honor to break a record like this,” Whitson responded. “It’s an honor for me to be representing all the folks at NASA who make space travel possible and make me setting this record feasible.”
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SOURCE: CNN, Amanda Barnett and Eleanor Mueller
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