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NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson arrived at the International Space Station this weekend, making her the oldest woman in space at age 56. On the mission, she's projected to once again become the U.S. astronaut with the most time spent in orbit.

This is Whitson's third mission on the space station; she'll soon become its commander for the second time. Collectively, she's spent more than a year of her life in space.


When Whitson lands back on Earth in spring of 2017, she'll have amassed more time in orbit than Jeff Williams, who set a new U.S. mark in September with 

. That's if the return date of Whitson's Soyuz MS-03 craft remains in May, as reported by 

 had placed the return date in late April.
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On the mission, she's projected to once again become the U.S. astronaut with the most time spent in orbit.

Peggy Whitson, 56, becomes oldest woman in space

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