Watch NASA record-breaker Peggy Whitson return to Earth

Adario Strange
Updated
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f81553%2f25a09085 9dbb 45b6 a60d 4f3aec210550
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f81553%2f25a09085 9dbb 45b6 a60d 4f3aec210550

Record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson has finally returned to Earth, closing the book on a chapter of space history that will provide inspiration for many for years to come. 

The Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft landed safely near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, carrying Whitson as well as commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, and NASA flight engineer Jack Fischer. 

Image: nasa via youtube

After accumulating 534 days, 2 hours, and 49 minutes of time in space, Whitson officially broke the previous record for the most time spent in space, previously held by NASA's Jeff Williams. In total, Whitson has spent 665 days in space, according to NASA, putting her at number eight on the all-time space endurance list.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who set multiple U.S. space records during her mission aboard the International Space Station, along with crewmates Jack Fischer of NASA and Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, safely landed on Earth Saturday at 9:21 p.m. EDT (7:21 a.m. Kazakhstan time, Sept. 3), southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan. While living and working aboard the world’s only orbiting laboratory, Whitson and Fischer contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, welcomed several cargo spacecraft delivering tons of supplies and research experiments, and conducted a combined six spacewalks to perform maintenance and upgrades to the station. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls #nasa #space #spacestation #astro2fish #landing #soyuz #internationalspacestation #astronomy #picoftheday

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Sep 2, 2017 at 7:59pm PDT

The landing of the three astronauts was broadcast live on YouTube, after which the three were shown in their gear, relaxing in a set of chairs and breathing in Earth's air for the first time in months.