Trump Congratulates Astronaut Peggy Whitson For Record Aboard International Space Station

President Donald Trump called astronaut Peggy Whitson on Monday, congratulating her for breaking the record for cumulative time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut.

Whitson, who is living and working aboard the International Space Station, launched on Nov. 17, 2016 with 377 days in space already under her belt. On Monday, she broke the previous U.S. record of 534 cumulative days in space. According to NASA, in 2008, Whitson became the first woman to command the space station, and on April 9 became the first woman to command it twice. She also holds the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut.

On the phone call, Trump was joined by his daughter and special assistant Ivanka Trump and astronaut Kate Rubins, who recently returned from the space station. At the space station, Whitson was joined by astronaut Jack Fisher for the call.

"I want to say that this is a very special day in the glorious history of American spaceflight," Trump said on the call, according to a transcript released by the White House. "Today, Commander Whitson, you have broken the record for the most total time spent in space by an American astronaut -- 534 days and counting. That's an incredible record to break. And on behalf of our nation and, frankly, on behalf of the world, I'd like to congratulate you. That is really something. And I'd like to know, how does it feel to have broken such a big and important record?"

Whitson said it was huge honor to break a record like this and to be representing people at NASA who make spaceflight possible.

"We are all very much looking forward, as directed by your new NASA bill — we're excited about the missions to Mars in the 2030s," Whitson said. "And so we actually, physically, have hardware on the ground that's being built for the SLS rocket that's going to take us there. And, of course, the hardware being built now is going to be for the test flights that will eventually get us there."

Asked what the astronauts were working on, Whitson said that among other things, astronauts were cleaning up their urine and making it drinkable.

"Well, that's good. I'm glad to hear that," Trump said in response. "Better you than me."

He said he was really impressed with the work the scientists were doing, joking that he had been dealing with politicians so much and that he was a lot more impressed with the astronauts.

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