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NASA's Most Experienced Astronaut Retires, Spent 665 Days In Space (upi.com)
An anonymous reader quotes UPI:
After nearly four decades with NASA, including 22 years as an astronaut, Peggy Whitson is leaving the space agency. Her retirement is effective Friday, NASA announced... Whitson ends her career with multiple records to her name, including most time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut -- 665 days...
The 57-year-old Whitson was a scientist before she was an astronaut, earning graduate degrees in biochemistry from Rice University in Houston before coming to conduct research at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 1989. The NASA scientist began training as an astronaut in 1996. She made her first trip to the International Space Station in 2008. During her time in space, including three long-duration stints aboard International Space Station, she helped carry out 21 science investigation and became the agency's first space station science officer... Whitson took a second turn as commander during Expedition 51, part of her most recent -- and last -- stay on the space station, which spanned from November 2016 to September 2017.
The 57-year-old Whitson was a scientist before she was an astronaut, earning graduate degrees in biochemistry from Rice University in Houston before coming to conduct research at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 1989. The NASA scientist began training as an astronaut in 1996. She made her first trip to the International Space Station in 2008. During her time in space, including three long-duration stints aboard International Space Station, she helped carry out 21 science investigation and became the agency's first space station science officer... Whitson took a second turn as commander during Expedition 51, part of her most recent -- and last -- stay on the space station, which spanned from November 2016 to September 2017.
Which is why the US has no manned space flight program any more. It was a waste of money compared to the little that was gained. Frankly I am glad it is over. Perhaps one day human beings will travel in real space, not near earth orbit. But there are real problems here that will not be solved out there. There are no worlds to live on and no technology that will allow us to live long lives in space or on hostile planets or moons.
We will not see a living human being walking or flying over a planet or moon ever again. Has not happened in nearly 50 years. It will not happen again for centuries at best. It is better to leave it in the past and focus on real issues. The future of space exploration is robotics.
... and not one fucking comment would make a good wart on a slasdotter's ass.
Disappointing.
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Telling, to me, is that I have never heard of her. When someone of her caliber steps out of the dimness into the limelight at the end of her long career, I wonder where she was on the stage.
Hell, I wonder where I was in the audience.
Congratulations to her on a job -- not well done -- but very well done
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.