Radio Iowa, IA
10-12-07
Iowan now at International Space Station
By Matt Kelley
Soyuz rocketThe Russian spacecraft carrying Iowa astronaut Peggy Whitson
docked with the International Space Station this morning. Whitson will be floating
aboard the station with her two crewmates soon, after the docking port is
checked and re-checked.
Whitson will be staying aboard the station for six months and will be its first
woman commander. She spent six months on the orbiting outpost in 2002 and
becomes the first NASA astronaut to serve aboard the station twice.
Whitson, a Beaconsfield native, is the only Iowa woman to fly in space. Another
astronaut with Iowa ties is already on board the space station to greet her.
Clayton Anderson is a Nebraska native and is the first Iowa State University
graduate to go into orbit. Anderson will be coming home early next month
aboard the space shuttle Discovery, which is due for liftoff from Florida later this
month.