Members of the International Space Station (ISS) crew Peggy Annette Whitson of the U.S. (L), Fyodor Yurchikhin of Russia (C), and Jack Fischer of the U.S. rest shortly after the landing of the Soyuz MS-04 capsule in a remote area outside the town of Dzhezkazgan (Zhezkazgan), Kazakhstan Sept. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken with NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer who just returned to Earth after lengthy stays aboard the International Space Station, congratulating them on "their incredible accomplishments," the White House said Monday.

"They make us all very proud," Trump said, according to a White House readout of the call.

Trump specifically recognized Peggy Whitson for spending 665 total days in space, a new record for American astronauts, the readout said.

"Peggy is an inspiration to us all," said Trump, "especially to young women interested in or currently pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math."

She is the only female astronaut to command the International Space Station twice, and holds the women' s record for longest time in orbit during a single spaceflight -- 288 days.

Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer returned to Earth on Saturday, and Trump spoke by phone with the pair as they were flying home to Houston on Sunday evening.