Watch Live: Iowa Native Peggy Whitson set for third trip to the International Space Station

The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa Tribune Content Agency MOUNT PLEASANT -- When Peggy Whitson returned from her second stay aboard the international space station in 2008, she brought home the international record for time by a woman in space at 377 days.

The 56-year-old Iowa native and Iowa Wesleyan University graduate returns to Earth orbit this week, and when her third mission aboard the station is complete, she will return to home as NASA's all-time leader, man or woman, for time in space.

The launch is set to take place today at 2:20 CST, with preparations and a live stream of the launch beginning at 1:20 CST.

Her alma mater will host a launch party today to celebrate its highest-flying alumnus' third voyage into space.

'That's an impressive opportunity,' IWU spokeswoman Lori Baerg said of Whitson's third voyage to the space station, 'and we're blessed we get to be a part of that experience with her.'

The party starts at 1:30 p.m. in the International Room of the Chadwick Library. The public is welcome to join students, faculty and staff from the university to watch as Whitson, along with crewmates from Russia and France, leave the launch pad.

Liftoff is set for 2:20 p.m. Iowa time -- 2:20 a.m. Friday in Kazakhstan, where liftoff will occur. Those who are unable to attend the party can watch at NASA.gov or on NASA TV.

Whitson is commander of Expedition 50/51 to the ISS. It is her second time in command of a space station expedition. Her first flight was in 2002 and lasted 185 days. Her second, in 2007 and 2008, was 192 days.

According to an August report by the Associated Press about the then-record-breaking space expedition of astronaut Jeffrey Williams, who logged 534 days in space by the time of his return to Earth in September. Whitson is expected to break that record prior the conclusion of her mission next spring. A firm landing date has not been announced.

Born in Mt. Ayr, she graduated in 1981 from Iowa Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry. Whitson went on to earn a doctorate in biochemistry in 1985 from Rice University in Texas. Whitson went to work as a NASA scientist in 1989, and in 1996 was accepted for astronaut training.

Several representatives from IWU attended a pre-departure press conference with the Expedition 50/51 crew in Houston. Whitson is expected to send a message from the space station that will be played during the university's 175th anniversary celebration on April 22. ———

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