Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly
Name	Scott Kelly
Birth date	February 21, 1964
Birth place	Orange, New Jersey, United States
Alma mater	State University of New York Maritime College, Naval Postgraduate School
Occupation	Naval aviator, test pilot, NASA astronaut
Missions	STS-103, STS-118, Soyuz TMA-01M/Expedition 25/26, Soyuz TMA-16M/Expedition 43/44

Scott Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is a former United States Navy aviator, naval flight officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut who logged extensive time aboard the International Space Station and flew multiple Space Shuttle and Soyuz missions. He is known for participating in a year-long orbital study comparing long-duration spaceflight effects between identical siblings and for leadership roles during complex extravehicular activities and spaceflight operations. Kelly's career spans service with the U.S. Navy, training at the Naval Postgraduate School, flights on Space Shuttle Endeavour and Space Shuttle Atlantis, and missions collaborating closely with international partners such as Roscosmos.

Early life and education

Kelly was born in Orange, New Jersey and raised in West Orange, New Jersey and Clark, New Jersey. He graduated from Clark High School before attending the State University of New York Maritime College where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He later completed a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee through coursework affiliated with the Naval Postgraduate School. During his formative years Kelly was involved in activities linked to the Civil Air Patrol and early aviation exposure that influenced his pursuit of flight training with the United States Navy.

Naval career and test pilot experience

After commissioning, Kelly completed flight training and served as a naval aviator flying the Grumman F-14 Tomcat with a fleet squadron deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60). He later served as a naval flight instructor and transitioned into the role of test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center, conducting developmental flight tests on platforms including the F/A-18 Hornet. During his naval career Kelly was assigned to operational deployments in the Mediterranean Sea and supported carrier operations tied to Carrier Air Wing taskings. His test pilot duties involved systems evaluations, carrier suitability trials, and avionics integration testing, providing experience that complemented astronaut selection criteria at NASA.

NASA career and spaceflights

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in the late 1990s, Kelly completed training and was assigned to technical duties in support of human spaceflight missions and vehicle development efforts. He served as a mission specialist on STS-103, a Space Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, and later flew on STS-118 which delivered truss elements to the International Space Station. Kelly also launched aboard Soyuz TMA-01M for Expedition 25/26, serving as a flight engineer and participating in station operations, robotics work, and logistics transfers. On a subsequent launch via Soyuz TMA-16M he commanded part of Expedition 43/44, carrying out command responsibilities, coordinating international crew activities with partners such as JAXA and ESA, and conducting extravehicular activities in support of station maintenance.

Year-long mission and scientific contributions

Kelly is widely recognized for undertaking a year-long mission aboard the International Space Station conducted in collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos, during which he spent approximately 340 consecutive days on-orbit. This mission was part of a medical and physiological study involving his identical twin, also a former astronaut, which compared genomic, cognitive, and physiological changes arising from prolonged exposure to microgravity and space radiation. Research areas included telomere dynamics, gene expression, microbiome shifts, bone density loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular function, and neurocognitive performance measured against ground-based controls. Data from this mission informed countermeasure development for long-duration exploration objectives such as expeditions to Mars and contributed to research programs overseen by the Human Research Program and international life sciences investigators.

Personal life and public outreach

Kelly has engaged in public outreach through media appearances, lectures, and writing to communicate human spaceflight experiences. He authored memoirs and contributed to educational initiatives with institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and outreach projects linked to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His public engagement included participation in documentaries, interviews with outlets covering aerospace topics, and guest lectures at universities and museums, advocating for STEM education and long-duration mission preparedness. Kelly has been involved with veteran and aviation communities, maintaining ties to organizations such as the Tailhook Association and participating in professional aviation forums.

Awards and honors

Kelly's recognitions include awards conferred by NASA and the United States Navy, mission-specific commendations, and honors from scientific and civic organizations. He received medals for flight performance during carrier deployments and for contributions to human spaceflight, along with advocacy awards from academic and aerospace societies. His year-long mission and associated research led to citations from collaborative international partners and publications in peer-reviewed scientific venues, reflecting the interdisciplinary impact of his work on long-duration space physiology and operational readiness.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:American astronauts Category:United States Navy officers