space walk
Astronaut Doug Wheelock working on the International Space Station. NASA

Astronaut Peggy Whitson of NASA made history Thursday morning when she became the first female astronaut to have embarked on eight spacewalks.

Dr. Whitson broke a record set by Sunita Williams who previous held the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut. Whitson is scheduled to complete a ninth walk on April 6. Thursday's walk is the 199th space walk done to assemble and maintain the Space Station

Whitson is working with Commander Shane Kimbrough on the International Space Station Thursday to connect cables and install an updated computer relay box. The walk is expected to take about six and a half hours total.

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