Daily News Science

NC State Grad Sets Record For Longest Space Flight By A Woman

by Neal Charnoff

U.S. astronaut Christina Koch, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), speaks with her relatives through a safety glass prior to the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

A graduate of North Carolina State University has set a record for the longest single space flight by a woman. 

NASA officials say that on Saturday Christina Koch broke the 288-day record set by former space station commander Peggy Whitson.

Koch also made history with the first all-female spacewalk last October, when she was joined by fellow astronaut Jessica Meir.

The News and Observer reports Koch received her Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering and physics from NC State in 2001, followed by a Master's degree in electrical engineering the following year.

Koch has been aboard the International Space Station since March 15 and is expected to return to Earth in February. 

She will approach but not quite break Scott Kelly's record of 340 days in space.

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