HOUSTON, TX - On November 15, astronauts Oleg Novitskiy, Thomas Pesquet, and Peggy Whitson will embark on a 6-month mission to the International Space Station. They’ll travel to Russia for several weeks of training, before launching from Kazakhstan. But first they stopped by the Houston 4-H Club, to offer some incredible inspiration, about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. They believe the legacy of The International Space Station will be one of unity.
Peggy Whitson explained, “Looking back at the Earth, it’s very obvious as you look back: this is one planet and we are one people.”
Whitson has spent 377 days in space. Not only is she the first woman to command the International Space Station, she’ll be the first to do it three times. A Houston native, she was also a member of 4-H.
Seeing someone who was just like them, growing up to be an astronaut, was incredible inspiring for students. Whitson’s words of encouragement really resonated.
She said, “Pushing yourself to be just a little bit uncomfortable is going get you more places than you would’ve ever have dreamed. Because you will make it.”
It’s a day the students won’t soon forget. Because as one student explained, “You can be anything when you grow up if you try.” Even an astronaut.