Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly is an American astronaut, engineer, and retired U.S. Navy Captain. He is best known for spending nearly a year in space on the International Space Station (ISS), a record for an American astronaut.

Early Life and Education

Scott Joseph Kelly was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey. He has an identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, who is also a retired astronaut. Scott Kelly graduated from Mountain High School in 1982. He then attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering in 1987. Later, he earned a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee in 1996.

Career

Kelly was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy in 1987. He became a naval aviator in 1990 and flew combat missions during the Gulf War. In 1993, he was selected for the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and graduated in 1994.

In 1996, Kelly was selected by NASA to become an astronaut. His first space flight was as pilot of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1999 on STS-103, a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. His second mission was as commander of STS-118 on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2007.

Kelly's most notable mission was his year-long stay on the ISS from March 2015 to March 2016. This mission, known as Expedition 46 and Expedition 47, was part of a study to understand the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body, with Kelly's twin brother Mark serving as the control subject on Earth.

Personal Life

Kelly is married to Amiko Kauderer, a public affairs officer at NASA. He has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Awards and Honors

Kelly has received numerous awards and honors for his service, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

See Also

• List of astronauts by year of selection
• List of International Space Station expeditions
• List of space travelers by nationality

External Links

• NASA Biography: Scott Kelly