posted 02-06-2013 07:35 PM               

He has established an official Facebook page for his preparation and mission.

This is my official Facebook page to follow along with me on this journey to the International Space Station (again).

I am honored to have been selected for another spaceflight and doubly honored to be selected for the yearlong expedition. I am looking forward to launching in March 2015 and spending a full year in orbit, to help scientists learn more about the long-term physical and psychological impacts of extended, confined flights in the weightless environment of space. My last spaceflight was a long-duration space mission. This mission will be the longer-duration space mission.

2015 seems far away, yet there is a lot of work to do to prepare for this mission. I plan to share my experiences from training on the ground and leaving the planet to flying out of this world and returning a year later.

posted 03-07-2014 04:47 PM               

NASA Selects 10 Proposals for Unprecedented Twin Astronaut Study

Only one set of twins has ever been into space, and now those twins are providing an unprecedented opportunity for scientists to understand better the effects of microgravity on the human body.

NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) will fund 10 short-term, first-of-its-kind investigations into the molecular, physiological and psychological effects of spaceflight in a continuous effort to reduce the health impacts of human space exploration. The National Space Biomedical Research Institute is partnering with HRP to provide genetic counseling and assisting in the management of the research.

This unique opportunity is made possible by NASA's decision to fly veteran astronaut Scott Kelly aboard the International Space Station for one year, beginning March 2015, while his identical twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, remains on Earth.

This study will focus in part on the comparison of blood samples collected from Scott and Mark at regular intervals before, during and after the one-year mission. Physiological and psychological testing also will be conducted on the brothers before, during and after the mission.

Scientific and technical experts from academia and government reviewed 40 proposals submitted in response to the research announcement "Human Exploration Research Opportunities - Differential Effects on Homozygous Twin Astronauts Associated with Differences in Exposure to Spaceflight Factors." The 10 selected proposals, which are from 10 institutions in seven states, will receive a combined $1.5 million during a three-year period.

HRP regularly assesses crew health and performance during spaceflight to evaluate associated risks. From these assessments, HRP develops strategies to monitor and mitigate these risks. These studies often have the considerable added benefit of advancing health care for people on Earth.

For a complete list of the selected proposals, principal investigators and organizations, see here.

posted 03-28-2014 11:29 PM               

T-365 to astronaut, cosmonaut spend year on space station

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has just a year left on Earth.

A veteran space station commander and half of history's first pair of twins to fly into orbit, Kelly will leave the planet in 2015 to become the first U.S. astronaut to spend a year in space.

"T-365: 1 year to 1 year (in space)," Kelly wrote on Twitter Friday (March 28). "Actually, there are 365.2422 days in a year, but who's counting? Me!"

Kelly, together with cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, are now entering their final 12 months training for the first yearlong mission on the International Space Station. The pair were selected for the extended long-duration stay in 2012.