Photo: NASA / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Peggy Whitson is an astronaut and biochemist. Born on February 9, 1960, Peggy Whitson is from Mount Ayr, Iowa, United States. That works out to 66 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Iowa Wesleyan University. Awards on record include NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1995, 2006), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2003, 2008), NASA Space Flight Medal (2003, 2008) and 2 more.
My Take
Peggy Whitson is, simply put, one of the people I admire most. A biochemist from Mount Ayr, Iowa, she became an astronaut and logged 695 days in space, more than any other American or any woman in history, and served as the first female chief of NASA's Astronaut Office. The arc from rural childhood to the longest residency above our planet is the kind of story that makes the impossible feel reachable. That she kept flying with Axiom Space after retiring from NASA only deepens my respect. Beyond the medals, what moves me is how her example keeps telling girls everywhere that the sky was never the limit.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Peggy Whitson
- Name (Japanese)
- ペギー・ウィットソン
- Reading
- ぺぎー・うぃっとそん
- Born
- February 9, 1960 (age 66)
- Origin
- Mount Ayr, Iowa, United States
- Occupation
- astronaut / biochemist
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rat
2. Background
- University
- Iowa Wesleyan University
Awards & achievements
- 1995 NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- 2003 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- 2003 NASA Space Flight Medal
- 2006 NASA Certificate of Appreciation
- 2006 NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- 2006 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
- 2008 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- 2008 NASA Space Flight Medal
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Peggy Whitson born?
Peggy Whitson was born on February 9, 1960 and is 66 years old.
Where is Peggy Whitson from?
Peggy Whitson is from Mount Ayr, Iowa, United States.
What does Peggy Whitson do?
Peggy Whitson works as astronaut, biochemist.
Where did Peggy Whitson study?
Peggy Whitson attended Iowa Wesleyan University.
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