Astronaut Scott Kelly is set to return to Earth on Tuesday after spending a record-breaking year in space.
His 340-day enterprise marks NASA’s longest spaceflight and has served as critical prep-work and research for future Mars exploration. NASA hopes to learn more about the toll of long-term spaceflight by comparing Kelly’s physical status to his identical twin brother, former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.
“I think we’ll learn a lot about longer-duration spaceflight and how that will take us to Mars someday,” Kelly said during his 335th day and final news conference from space on Thursday. “So I’d like to think that this is another of many stepping stones to us landing on Mars sometime in our future.”
On Sunday, Kelly tweeted a photo of his last glimpse of the moon.
Likely my last pic of the #moon from space. Reminded me of my friend, #GeneCernan the @lastmanonmoon! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/4YCHj6s5E9
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 28, 2016
The spaceman says he could spend another year if needed but still looks forward to jumping in his pool and eating at a dining table.
His year in space has been well-documented on his Twitter feed. To mark his cosmic triumph, here are 10 breathtaking tweets from the homestretch of his stay.
Needed a little humor to lighten up a #YearInSpace. Go big, or go home. I think I’ll do both. #SpaceApehttps://t.co/Ift8VdDR4C
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 23, 2016
#YearInSpace #Countdown Day 9 down. #Throwback to when I dared watch #Gravity on @space_station. That was cool! pic.twitter.com/lX6Wfo4zWT
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 23, 2016
More #Africa #EarthArt hues. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/SythDOBILo
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 22, 2016
#ColorsofEarth Snow white. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/L7iXYq5QwU
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 16, 2016
Day 321. Beautiful #Earth. Beautiful #Africa. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/wmDjH28zej
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 12, 2016
Day 309. #Aurora nights. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l9INO5T3hm
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 30, 2016
#Bahamas #EarthArt Watercolors! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/v0mtgLCRWd
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 19, 2016
#SpaceFlower out in the sun for the first time! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/Cghu9XGv1J
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 17, 2016
Nothing says it’s a new day quite like this #sunrise. It’s a #GoodDay from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/5xezu2GoAX
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 13, 2016
Sandy and green on the South #Indian coast. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/6jie3PB23i
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 3, 2016
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