Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut who holds the U.S. record for total days in space, will speak at 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, in Sheslow Auditorium.

This event is open to the public, and a significant number of seats have been reserved for Drake students, faculty, and staff members. Due to venue capacity, seating is limited. Seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required.

Whitson recently flew on Expedition 50/51 aboard the International Space Station and participated in four spacewalks (bringing her career total to ten). With a total of 665 days in space, Whitson holds the U.S. record, placing eighth on the all-time space endurance list.

The Iowa native also completed two six-month tours of duty aboard the station for Expedition 5 in 2002, and as the station commander for Expedition 16 in 2008. She accumulated 377 days in space between the two missions, the most for any U.S. woman at the time of her return to Earth.

In the evening following her lecture, Whitson will receive the 2018 Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award from the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.

— Aaron Jaco, University Communications