Astronaut Christina Koch breaks women’s record for longest time in space

Astronaut Christina Koch has made history by conducting the longest space flight ever by a woman.

The Nasa astronaut has now spent 289 consecutive days in space, breaking the record that was set by Peggy Whitson, who came back to Earth after 288 days.

During that unprecedentedly long journey, Koch has already set another record. She and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir conducted the first ever all-female spacewalk from the International Space Station in October, in another breakthrough that was watched around the world.

By the time she returns, Koch is expected to have taken part in six spacewalks, as well as conducting vital research while on board the space station.