Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-05-2012 03:35 PM
Please use this topic to discuss the first yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko from March 2015 through March 2016.
Lasv3 Member
Posts: 446 From: Bratislava, Slovakia Registered: Apr 2009
posted 11-26-2012 10:41 AM
Is there a back-up crew named, or planned?
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 11-26-2012 12:45 PM
What is involved in a two year training period, especially for such a veteran ISS pair?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-26-2012 01:20 PM
quote:Originally posted by dabolton: What is involved in a two year training period, especially for such a veteran ISS pair?
From what I understand, the training is not too different (in length or scope) from the shorter expeditions. Current preparation time for a six month stay is about two years as well, which takes into account the time needed to travel between training locations (U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada) as well as avoid scheduling conflicts between training crews.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-05-2012 09:49 AM
quote:Originally posted by Lasv3: Is there a back-up crew named, or planned?
NASA said today that Scott Kelly's backup will be decided as part of the normal schedule for six month increments, so in about four to five months.
Kornienko said today that his backup is Sergei Volkov.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3452 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 12-05-2012 09:58 PM
Associated Press reports Kelly was among four astronauts on NASA's short list for the assignment.
Furthermore, "Each had served as a commander aboard the space station, and was able to perform spacewalks and robot arm operations. Medical information also went into the selection: A crew member could not have exceeded his limit for exposure to cosmic radiation, for instance."
Which begs the questions: Who were the other three; in a Top 10 list of NASA astronauts with the most ISS time, where does Kelly fall?; and in a Top 10 list of NASA astronauts' spaceflight time with shuttle and ISS combined, where does Kelly fall?
PowerCat Member
Posts: 209 From: Herington, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2006
posted 12-06-2012 04:34 AM
I wonder if it was Jeff Williams, Mike Fincke, and Peggy Whitson?
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3452 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 12-06-2012 11:07 AM
I would have figured Foale — and I'll admit, its partly because I'd like to see him get a seventh flight.
But he has Mir experience as well as ISS, and it would be interesting to see a translation of health experiences from Mir to ISS to what is essentially a proto-Mars flight. If anything, Foale should be Kelly's backup.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-06-2012 11:29 AM
Whoever is assigned to Kelly as a backup will be flying on their own six-month expedition flight later in the rotation...
brianjbradley Member
Posts: 128 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
posted 12-06-2012 04:18 PM
With the commander, EVA and SSRMS experience rationale, Doug Wheelock could also have been a candidate. He mentioned in a tweet several months ago that he anticipated being assigned to an increment that would fly in 2015 specifically. He could also be a possible back-up candidate as he has flown with Kelly and would slip in for him a little more easily.
That said, I think he is on leave from NASA flying in OEF and unavailable for flight assignment.
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1635 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 12-22-2012 10:26 AM
Presumably Kelly will serve in a backup role first, likely to Barry Wilmore if the current pattern of assignments holds.
If Kelly were then called upon to replace Wilmore, especially shortly before the mission, would he still remain aloft for a year? If so, would Kornienko be launched at the same time (replacing Serova)? That might present some unique logistical challenges on short notice. Not to mention changing the sequence for launching a spaceflight participant.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-22-2012 12:49 PM
I believe Kelly said that if he or Kornienko were not available to fly on the yearlong mission, then the expedition(s) would revert to a six month schedule.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-14-2015 07:39 PM
NASA's Human Research Program now has a dedicated website for the yearlong mission and the twins study.
The One-Year Mission will focus on seven categories of research. In March 2015, American Astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will begin collaborative investigations on the International Space Station (ISS). They will reside on the ISS for a year, which is twice as long as typical U.S. missions. These investigations are expected to yield beneficial knowledge on the medical, psychological and biomedical challenges faced by astronauts during long-duration space flight.
The Twins Study is ten separate investigations coordinating together and sharing all data and analysis as one large, integrated research team. The study will focus on four categories of research. NASA has selected 10 investigations to conduct with identical twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly. These investigations will provide broader insight into the subtle effects and changes that may occur in spaceflight as compared to Earth by studying two individuals who have the same genetics, but are in different environments for one year.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-19-2015 09:27 AM
Scott Kelly will attend the President's State of the Union address on Tuesday (Jan. 20) as a guest of the First Lady.
Imagine carrying out hundreds of scientific and research experiments, every day, for a year... in space.
For American astronaut Scott Kelly, that will soon be his reality. This March, this native of Houston, Texas will launch to the International Space Station and become the first American to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for a year-long mission.
Not only will he be conducting studies on cutting-edge technology development, he and his crew will compare medical data from Scott and hist twin brother astronaut Mark Kelly to see how the human body responds over time in space. This research will help move our country forward toward President Obama's goal of sending humans to Mars by the 2030s.
An astronaut since 1996, Scott has logged more than 180 days in space and has served as both pilot and commander on space shuttle missions, including a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. So he should feel right at home.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-25-2015 05:42 AM
Scott Kelly's must-have item for this yearlong mission is a "superhero belt," the Associated Press reports.
Kelly went beltless during his five-month mission at the International Space Station a few years back, and he hated how his shirttails kept floating out of his pants. So this time, the 51-year-old retired Navy captain packed "a military, tactical-style thing" that can hold a tool pouch.
Actually, scratch pouch. He prefers "superhero utility belt."
Kelly's partner on the yearlong stay at the space station — Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko — can't do without his vitamins. When their Soyuz rocket blasts off from Kazakhstan on Saturday (Friday afternoon in the U.S.), three bottles of over-age-50 vitamins will be on board.
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1327 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 03-25-2015 08:32 AM
Wow! Great to hear that astronauts/cosmonauts are just like us (older) folks and need their vitameatavegamins (with apologies to I Love Lucy )
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 03-26-2015 10:42 AM
Scott should brought along a Scott's evest. Dozens of pockets in them.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-30-2015 10:18 AM
NASA video release
NASA Administrator, President's Science Advisor Speak with Astronaut on Yearlong Station Mission
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden joined John Holdren, science advisor to President Obama and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and former astronaut Mark Kelly for the first public conversation with astronaut Scott Kelly from the International Space Station on Monday, March 30.
The event aired live on NASA Television at 2:45 p.m. EDT (1945 GMT).
Kelly launched Friday on the first-ever yearlong mission to the International Space Station. His mission will help scientists better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to the harsh environment of space, and is critical to advancing NASA's plans to send humans on a journey to Mars.
Mark Kelly, who flew four space shuttle missions and commanded the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, will participate in biomedical studies on the ground while his twin is on board the orbiting laboratory.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-08-2015 02:19 PM
Jimmy Fallon weighed the pros and cons of being in space for a year on The Tonight Show:
Good thing [my girlfriend] can't text me on #ISS. I left my phone on Earth.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-10-2015 07:45 AM
Following up on the above clip, Jimmy Fallon mentioned Scott Kelly's reply tweet during a commercial break taping The Tonight Show with guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus:
posted 04-15-2015 02:46 AM
With any future long duration missions sure to include female astronauts I am a little puzzled as to why this mission was not a mixed crew?
Having just read an interesting article by David Baker in Spaceflight magazine entitled "Sex and health in space" I think it may have been a useful study.
Robonaut Member
Posts: 259 From: Solihull, West Mids, England Registered: Mar 2002
posted 04-15-2015 05:35 AM
A problem for any female contender for the near-year long flight is that their allowed radiation exposure limits are less than for men. Peggy Whitson was interested in flying the mission but was ruled out because her cumulative exposure level would have exceeded her allowance. I think it would be reasonable to say she was not best pleased by the decision.
posted 04-15-2015 04:08 PM
Interesting, so a potential long duration mission to Mars would not include women astronauts?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-15-2015 04:19 PM
This is potentially the first of several yearlong missions on the space station. The candidates for this first expedition had to meet several baseline requirements, including a similar amount of past time spent in space.
Both Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko had about 180 days of previous spaceflight experience. Peggy Whitson, who reportedly was interested in a yearlong mission, has already spent more than a year in space (cumulatively over her two flights). Gennady Padalka was also interested in the yearlong assignment, but was turned away for similar reasons.
Just because this first mission doesn't include a woman doesn't mean that a future mission won't, whether that is another yearlong stay on the station or a trip out to Mars.
OV-105 Member
Posts: 851 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
posted 04-15-2015 06:42 PM
I wonder how much having a twin on earth helped get Scott Kelly picked for the mission. You have a perfect control subject on planet to compare to the one in orbit.
328KF Member
Posts: 1307 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 04-15-2015 10:23 PM
Time magazine is producing a multi-part documentary film titled "A Year in Space" that will be presented on its website starting in May.
quote:Originally posted by Robonaut: A problem for any female contender for the near-year long flight is that their allowed radiation exposure limits are less than for men.
It was the radiation issue that interested me. Would a female astronaut be okay on a trip to Mars if their threshold is apparently less?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-18-2015 12:51 PM
I believe it would depend on the particular astronaut's past spaceflight experience (i.e. how much time they've already spent off Earth) and the levels of acceptable exposure as understood at the time (currently NASA's restrictions are much more conservative than Russia's, to no reported/apparent ill effect to the cosmonauts).
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3452 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 09-15-2015 12:17 AM
They are spending 342 days in space to gather data about how their bodies react and adapt to long duration spaceflight in preparation for sending astronauts further out into the solar system.
So the two will be short of a full year by 20-odd days. Interestingly, had things gone wrong on STS-135 and the crew forced to shelter on ISS, Doug Hurley would have been the last to come home via Soyuz, after spending about 340 days in space — he would have inadvertently been the first Year in Space study for the U.S.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 02-26-2016 01:05 PM
Has Scott Kelly announced if he will retire from NASA after this or does he intend on returning to space again someday?
Robonaut Member
Posts: 259 From: Solihull, West Mids, England Registered: Mar 2002
posted 02-26-2016 04:32 PM
I have not seen anything official but I doubt that Scott Kelly will put himself forward for another spaceflight.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-29-2016 11:43 AM
Jim Lovell says Scott Kelly's year-long sojourn in space may help us get to Mars in a column for USA Today.
One of our countrymen has spent nearly a year off of our planet.
This past year, astronaut Scott Kelly has orbited our planet more than 5,000 times, traveling well over 100 million miles aboard the International Space Station.
For a year, Scott has made an incredible sacrifice for our country as he has lived cut off from his family and friends and risked his life in the name of space medical science. He is building a foundation for the next chapter of American space flight. And Scott deserves our thanks.
oly Member
Posts: 1181 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 03-02-2016 01:58 AM
I am glad to see Kelly and Kornienko return safely to earth. They have made an astonishing contribution to spaceflight and I hope their efforts reveal important research results that enable greater duration safe spaceflight possible.
Some of the contributions Kelly has made with his photography skills, his social media contributions and his humour have had public interest and opinion regarding spaceflight shown in a positive light.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-02-2016 09:59 AM
Post-flight interviews with Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko:
David C Member
Posts: 1246 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 03-02-2016 05:10 PM
quote:Originally posted by oly: I am glad to see Kelly and Kornienko return safely to earth. They have made an astonishing contribution to spaceflight...
I too am glad to see their safe return and I admire the personal sacrifice and strength required to achieve this. I'm sure the medics and engineers will have acquired much valuable data.
However, I'm far from astonished. Over seventeen years ago Titov and Manarov completed a full (not PR approximation) year in orbit and this is no where near the endurance record. I'll really start to cheer when a male and female complete a stay equivalent to a Mars round trip endurance.
I see this as an ISS "warm up."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-02-2016 05:22 PM
The point of the yearlong mission was to see if there were any notable medical changes or surprises from what has been well-documented on six month flights. If there were none, then there may not be a point to another yearlong space station stay, let alone an even longer one.
As for the psychological challenges, as Kelly pointed out during the mission, there is a difference between orbiting the Earth for a year and having the expectation of arriving at Mars or returning to Earth to keep one motivated.
As an aside, medically and psychologically, there is little difference between 340 and 365 days.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45924 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-03-2016 04:39 AM
Scott Kelly's homecoming to Houston:
oly Member
Posts: 1181 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 03-03-2016 06:46 AM
Sorry to be off topic here, the aircraft in this video, N992NA is NASA GIII Gulfstream, what is up with the engine nacelles? Is this a special modification?
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2687 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 03-03-2016 08:56 AM
Those are Hush Kits. They appear to be the QS3 version by Hubbard Technologies.
There are currently two companies that install Hush Kits on GII/III /IIB aircraft Hubbard and Quite Technology Aerospace (QTA).
David C Member
Posts: 1246 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 03-03-2016 11:03 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: If there were none, then there may not be a point to another yearlong space station stay, let alone an even longer one.
I realise that at some stage in the future of long range exploration, preparatory Earth orbital endurance demonstrations will become impractical. However, so far only four men and no women have spent more than a year continuously in microgravity. A Mars trip could easily require three years (particularly if an abort profile precluded any intermediate stay on Mars) - with no prospect of a quick return in a medical emergency. I'd be surprised if any suggested medical consensus that the assessment of two males over eleven months is sufficient to clear males and females for three years was motivated by anything other than expediency.
Finding suitable volunteers is another question entirely. A certain level of supplementary financial compensation for the hardship and sacrifice experienced by both the subjects and their families may be appropriate.
quote:As an aside, medically and psychologically, there is little difference between 340 and 365 days.
I concede that based on a tiny sample that's probably the case physiologically. Psychologically I'm sure that depends entirely upon the situation and individual.
posted 10-05-2012 03:35 PM
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