![A view of the International Space Station. [Image via Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/9/3/660x290/b_502x220x82/a-view-of-the-international-space-station-credit-wikimediacommons_1546197.jpg "A view of the International Space Station. [Image via Wikimedia Commons]")
Peggy Whitson, who spent 665 days on the international space station (ISS), is back to Earth. The ISS is located nearly 250 miles above the Earth’s surface. In the ISS, the 57-year-old biochemist kept herself busy by conducting experiments related to studies of cancerous lung tissue and bone cells. Whitson, who is also the station's first woman commander, left to ISS in November on a 228-day mission. She was scheduled to return to Earth in June. However, she extended her stay for another three months.
Two other Astronauts also came back to Earth along with her and all of them landed safely in Kazakhstan.
They were Jack Fischer (43) of NASA and Fyodor Yurchikhin of Russian space agency, Roscosmos. The latter has more experience because he spent 673 days in space, over five missions. Both of them had joined the ISS in April.
The astronauts appeared to be in good health after landing and were shifted to a medical tent for observation.
Reactions of Peggy Whitson
According to Sky News, Peggy Whitson had missed two things in International Space Station: Pizza and her husband, who is also a biochemist. While in space, she had set a number of records. She became the oldest spacewoman and the most experienced space walker. During her stay, she undertook 10 spacewalks and four of them were a part of her current mission.
She was satisfied with her contribution to the cause of science and space and wants to share her experiences with the future generation. She wants to motivate them.
All the three astronauts bid an emotional farewell from the International Space Station and three new members have taken charge of the ISS.
International Space Station
Science knows no boundaries and scientists like Peggy Whitson always work for the betterment of mankind. The International Space Station is the best example of shared responsibility between countries. The US and Russia may have a difference of opinion on innumerable issues but when American and Russian astronauts enter the space lab, they operate as a cohesive unit in the interest of science.
Space shuttle of NASA used to be the vehicle to transport astronauts and equipment to ISS. However, after NASA’s shuttle was decommissioned, Russia took over and its Soyuz is now the vehicle. There are plans to involve private participation, and SpaceX is one of the firms that has developed a reusable capsule. This capsule is still under testing.
