Sept. 2, 2008

Astronaut and Iowa native Peggy Whitson will deliver the annual McBride Lecture Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in Pote Theatre at Simpson College in Indianola.

Her lecture is titled, “Life on the Space Station.”

Whitson, a native of Beaconsfield, Iowa, has spent more time in space than any U.S. astronaut, completing two six-month tours of duty aboard the International Space Station and spending a total of 377 days in space between the two missions in 2002 and 2007. During her 2007 mission, she became the first woman to command the International Space Station.

Whitson received a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in Houston, Texas, in 1985. After completing a Robert A. Welch Postdoctoral Fellowship at the university, Whitson joined the NASA Johnson Space Center, where she worked in a variety of roles before being selected as an astronaut candidate in April 1996.

The McBride Lectureship was established by the Simpson College board of trustees in 1987 in honor of Robert McBride, 19th president of the college, and his wife Luella. The lectureship recognizes the couple for their service to the community and their commitment to Simpson College.

The lecture is free and open to the public.