A southern Iowa farm girl who grew up to become an astronaut will be in Ames this weekend, telling her tales of six months aboard the International Space Station. Mount Ayr native Peggy Whitson is being accompanied on this trip to Iowa State University by a mockup of two modules from the massive space station, being trucked in aboard two 48-foot semi trucks.The exhibit will offer visitors a chance to see what the habitation and laboratory modules of the I-S-S are like, where astronauts live, sleep, eat and do experiments, as well as an example of the ever-popular space toilet. Whitson, who returned to earth in December of 2002, says the life-sized model of the I-S-S is very accurate and gives her a little deja-vu, like she’s been there before, and she has. She says anytime she hears the voices of crewmembers on TV she gets that feeling and wants to go back. Tonight (Saturday), Whitson will be delivering a presentation at Iowa State University’s Howe Hall on her half-year mission as a space-dweller. She’s going to talk about her experience in orbit. The exhibit and Whitson’s address are free. The exhibit is open Saturday from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M., Sunday from 1 P.M. to 8 P.M. and Tuesday from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Whitson will be signing autographs at the exhibit Saturday from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M. and Sunday from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. Her address tonight at Howe Hall is at 8 P.M.
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