Sunita Williams sets new space record for women

One of the astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, an American, Sunita Williams, has broken a world record. She has spent more time in orbit than any other woman – 188 days.

Sunita Williams should have returned to Earth already but the station's technical problems have delayed her arrival.  She is now due to land next week, extending the record.

The previous women's record was set in 1996 by another U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid, who spent 6 months in outer space.