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Record-setting Astronaut Thrilled with Bonus Time in Space


FILE - U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station, waves from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz MS-3 spaceship at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Nov. 17, 2016.
FILE - U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station, waves from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz MS-3 spaceship at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Nov. 17, 2016.

The world's most experienced spacewoman says she's thrilled to get an extra three months off the planet.

The commander of the International Space Station, Peggy Whitson, told the Associated Press on Thursday that five months into her mission, she's still not bored. She misses cooking, though, and a diverse menu. Plus, she's afraid there isn't much chocolate left to celebrate Easter this Sunday.

Earlier this month, NASA announced Whitson will stay up until September, stretching her mission to nearly 10 months. NASA is taking advantage of an empty seat in a Russian Soyuz capsule for her return.

The 57-year-old Whitson — the oldest woman to fly in space — is on the verge of setting a U.S. record for most accumulated time in space. This is her third space station stint.

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