Astronaut Scott Kelly: I Could Go Another Year in Space

As most of America prepares for Super Tuesday, Scott Kelly - American astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain - is preparing for his return home. To Earth. On March 1st, Kelly and Russian crew-mate, Mikhail Kornienko, will have spent an impressive 340 days in space - which NASA, a little brazenly if you ask me, are labeling “a year” in space.

The objective of 'The Year Long Mission’ has been to study the health effects - both physical and psychological - of spending extended bouts of time in space. Once Kelly returns, everything from his vision to his bones will be studied. As luck would have it, Kelly has an identical twin brother, Mark Kelly (a former astronaut himself) to whom possible genetic changes, caused by radiation exposure, can be compared.

“I could go another year if I had to. It would just depend on what I was doing and if it would make a difference, although I look forward to getting home next week,” Kelly said during a news conference.

The study which is crucial for future missions to Mars hasn't been without its difficulty however, and Kelly does admit that while it's been "an incredible privilege, to be able to work for NASA and represent our country," it has been difficult being away from friends and family. "The hardest part is being isolated from people on the ground who are important to you," he said.“There is certainly a loss of connection with folks on the ground that you care for and love and want to spend time with — that is a challenge.”