President Trump and his daughter Ivanka will call space next week from the Oval Office to congratulate a NASA astronaut on her “record-breaking stay” at the International Space Station.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson has been aboard the space station since Nov. 19, 2016. She will break the record Monday for spending the most days in space, according to a NASA news release.
“She is the first woman to command the space station twice, and holds the record for most spacewalks conducted by a female astronaut,” the release reads.
NASA astronaut Jeff Williams previously held the record, spending 534 days in space.
The call is meant to promote STEM education in schools nationwide.
During a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum last month, the first daughter encouraged young women to pursue careers in STEM fields.
“Women make up 48 percent of the workforce but only 24 percent of STEM professionals,” she said. “I dare you to beat these statistics.”
NASA plans to air the 20-minute call live on its website and Facebook page at 10 a.m. Monday.
