There are many telling way to bend out of your job , but perhaps break the platter for the longest single U.S. spacefaring and becoming one of the first two humans to spend a year aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) top them all .
Yes , NASA has annunciate thatone - year crew memberScott Kelly , 52 , will strike out from being an spaceman with the agency as of April 1 this year . He will still take part in research related to his twelvemonth - in - space mission , namely the Twins Study in partnership with his brother Mark , but his days of really going to distance are now over .
“ This year - in - infinite mission was a unsounded challenge for all involved , and it give me a unique perspective and a caboodle of time to speculate on what my next step should be on our keep on journey to help further our capabilities in infinite and on Earth , ” Kelly said in astatement .
Kelly ’s career was glittering , to say the least . In total , he spent 520 days in place – the most for any American astronaut ( so far ) , across four delegation . It was his latest delegation that really threw him into the limelight , though , where Kelly became know not only for his prolifictweetingfrom space ( 700 in total ) , but together with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kornienko , he also became the first to pass 12 months on the ISS . former missions lasted just six months .
Missions like this are a full of life step towards post humans to Mars , and NASA has more plan for exchangeable ( oreven more challenging ) missionary post on the ISS in the hereafter . “ Our universe is a bountiful place , and we have many millions of mile yet to research , ” Kelly said in a personal blog post onFacebook .
Kelly is fancy here during a spacewalk on November 6 , 2015 . NASA
His 520 - day record book wo n’t last evermore , though , as NASA astronaut Jeff Williams is do to launch to the ISS on March 18 , and on this missionary work he will reach a total of 534 day .
all the same , Kelly ’s accomplishment , particularly with regards to setting human race towards Mars , will not be forgotten . When honor Kelly , perhaps NASA Administrator Charles Boldensummed it up best :
“ When the first Americans adjust foot on Mars , they will be conform to in the footsteps of one of the finest astronaut in the story of the distance program , my protagonist , Commander Scott Kelly . After spending an American record 520 years in place – including his Year in Space – I can think of no one more worth of some well - deserved residue and time on the same planet as his menage and friend . ”
