US Astronaut To Set Record For Longest Spaceflight By A Woman
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBSMiami/AP) - US astronaut Christina Koch is in for a record-setting stay in space aboard the International Space Station.
NASA said Koch will remain on board for about 11 months, until February. That approaches but doesn't quite break Scott Kelly's 340-day U.S. record. She knew before launching last month that her flight might stretch into 2020. She said it was awesome.
Another NASA astronaut will also have an extended stay. Andrew Morgan will launch to the space station this summer for a nine-month mission — also considerably longer than the usual six months.
NASA announced the extended assignments this week.
Koch will break the record of 288 days for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at the end of December. Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson is the current record-holder.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)