Peggy Whitson ’86, a Rice University alumna and former NASA chief astronaut, is preparing to lead Axiom Space’s fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The veteran astronaut, who holds the record for the most days spent in space by an American, will command the Axiom 4 mission, which will carry an international crew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Astronauts from Poland and Hungary will participate, marking the first government-sponsored spaceflight for each nation in more than 40 years and the inaugural time all three countries will collaborate on a mission aboard the ISS. The journey is expected to last up to two weeks, though details of the mission’s experiments have not been disclosed.
After retiring from NASA, Whitson said she believed her spaceflight days were behind her, but this mission will allow her to return to orbit. “I left NASA not ever expecting to fly in space again,” Whitson told MSN News. “Axiom Space has allowed me that opportunity in just a few years from my retirement.”
Whitson’s career spans more than 37 years in space and science. As a former NASA astronaut, she has held numerous leadership roles, including chief of the astronaut office and two-time commander of the ISS. She made history as the first female commander of a private space mission during Axiom’s Ax-2 mission.
During her first three space missions — Expeditions 5, 16 and 50/51/52 — she conducted 10 spacewalks, accumulating over 60 hours outside the station. Her contributions to space research include hundreds of biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science experiments.
An advocate for education and mentorship, Whitson continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. In May 2024, she returned to Rice to deliver the undergraduate commencement address, sharing insights from her career.
“Whether you approach your goals in life with an intricate plan laid out on spreadsheets and timelines or just a general plan with significant hand-waving, there are an infinite number of ways to get to your destination,” she told graduates. “There is no one path for the unique journey each of you will make.”