Scott Kelly (astronaut)

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Scott Kelly is a retired American astronaut and a retired U.S. Navy Captain. Born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey, Kelly is best known for his participation in the NASA mission that sent him to the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly a year. This mission, known as the Year In Space, aimed to study the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body. Scott Kelly has an identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, who is also a retired astronaut and currently serves as a United States Senator from Arizona.

Early Life and Education

Scott Kelly was born to Patricia and Richard Kelly. He grew up with his brother Mark in West Orange, New Jersey. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York Maritime College in 1987 and a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1996.

Naval Career

After graduating from SUNY Maritime College, Kelly was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. He became a naval aviator and flew the F-14 Tomcat during combat operations in the Gulf War. Later, he attended the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and worked as a test pilot for fighter aircraft.

NASA Career

Kelly's career at NASA began when he was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996. His first spaceflight was as a pilot of STS-103 in 1999, a Space Shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. He went on to command STS-118 in 2007, a mission to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour.

In October 2010, Kelly launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a long-duration mission to the ISS as part of Expeditions 25 and 26. He returned to space for his final mission, spending nearly a year aboard the ISS from March 27, 2015, to March 1, 2016, as part of Expeditions 43, 44, 45, and 46. This mission was part of the NASA Twins Study, a comprehensive biological study, comparing changes in his body to those of his identical twin brother, Mark, on Earth.

Personal Life

Scott Kelly has been open about the challenges and rewards of long-duration spaceflight, sharing his experiences through various media and in his memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery. His contributions to space exploration and science have made him a prominent public figure and an inspiration to many aspiring astronauts.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Kelly has received numerous awards and honors, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. His record-setting year in space has been celebrated as a significant achievement in the history of human spaceflight.

Retirement

After retiring from NASA in 2016, Scott Kelly has continued to contribute to space science and education, advocating for the continued exploration of space and the importance of studying the long-term effects of space on the human body.

Legacy

Scott Kelly's year-long mission aboard the ISS has provided valuable data on the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, contributing to the preparation for future missions to Mars and beyond. His work has paved the way for understanding how humans can live and work in space for extended periods.