- His identical twin brother and former
- During a
ADVERTISEMENT
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shared what it was REALLY like to live in space for a year
Astronaut Scott Kelly shared some of the strangest, most interesting details about floating around the International Space Station for a year.
ADVERTISEMENT
What's it like to not walk on solid ground for a year?
That's one of the questions NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and companion Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko set out to answer during their year-long mission on board the International Space Station (ISS).
In 2016, the men succeeded in their mission to discover how a long-term, low-gravity environment affects the human body, becoming the first humans to ever spend a year in zero gravity. Their mission was twice as long as typical US missions, and their journey of more than 143 million miles is considered critical in preparing astronauts for future expeditions to Mars. Kelly's identical twin brother and former NASA astronaut, Mark Kelly, remained as a control subject on Earth.
ADVERTISEMENT
When Kelly initially returned from space two years ago, he was 1.5 inches taller, slower and less accurate, and his genetic code had changed significantly. While most of that returned to normal, preliminary findings from NASA now show that that 7% of his DNA has not returned to normal after landing and no longer matches his identical twin brother's.
During a Reddit AMA while he was still aboard the International Space Station, Kelly shared his observations about life in space. Here are some of the most interesting things the astronaut revealed:
Space isn't as scary as you might think
This is a response to the question,
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bahamas are just as beautiful from space
"My favorite spot on Earth to see from space is probably the Bahamas. The brilliant and varied colors of the blue water and contrast from here is pretty spectacular."
This is a response to the question,
Kelly's first meal upon returning to earth wouldn't be fast food
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a response to the question,
Microgravity could be good for your body
This is a response to the question,
ADVERTISEMENT
"My muscles and joints are a whole lot better up here than with gravity. It's almost like you are in a bed rest. There is no pressure or pain. I do stretch before I exercise because my muscles aren't stretched out, they are somewhat dormant."
This is a response to the question,
Just because it looks easy doesn't mean it is
This is a response to the question,
ADVERTISEMENT
The best pedicure could be space travel
This is a response to the question,
Space smells like burning metal
ADVERTISEMENT
"Smells vary depending on what segment you are in. Sometimes it has an antiseptic smell. Sometimes it has an odor that smells like garbage. But the smell of space when you open the hatch smells like burning metal to me."
This is a response to the question,
Microgravity makes your arms feel weird
"Your arms don't hang by your side in space like they do on Earth because there is no gravity. It feels awkward to have them floating in front of me. It is just more comfortable to have them folded. I don't even have them floating in my sleep, I put them in my sleeping bag."
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a response to the question,
Peeing in space can get messy
"Recently I had to clean up a gallon-sized ball of urine mixed with acid.
"The acid is added to the urine so the urine doesn't damage the machinery that moves it through the system. It keeps it from clogging up the system."
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a response to the question,
Common courtesy goes a long way
"I just sneezed twice coming into my crew quarters. And I do what I do on Earth and cover my mouth with my hand. If I didn't do that, it's possible the sneeze could be found floating in another module. I generally don't sneeze into open air on Earth or here in space."
This is a response to the question,
ADVERTISEMENT
Getting along with colleagues is especially important
"I think it's one of the great things about the space station program is that it's an international program. We get along very well. We have to because we rely on each other for our lives."
This is a response to the question,
Sleeping in space isn't easy, and the dreams can get weird
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sleeping here in space is harder than on a bed because the sleep position here is the same position throughout the day. You don't ever get that sense of gratifying relaxation here that you do on Earth after a long day at work. Yes, there are humming noises on station that affect my sleep, so I wear ear plugs."
This is a response to the question,
"I am not a great sleeper. I don't think I have ever slept eight hours straight in the last 20 years. I wind up waking up a couple of times. My dreams are sometimes space dreams and sometimes Earth dreams. And they are crazy."
This is a response to the question,
Time is a challenge
ADVERTISEMENT
"The most challenging thing about being in space for a year is time. A year is a long time."
This is a response to the question,
But Kelly never gets bored
"I never feel bored up here. There is always plenty to do, and not enough free time to do it. As for lonely, we have pretty good ways to stay connected with people in your life. I certainly miss my loved ones, but I never feel lonely. And connecting to people back on Earth on social media like this helps too!"
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a response to the question,
Living in space for a year makes you appreciate things
"I will appreciate nature more."
This is a response to the question,
ADVERTISEMENT
Walking in space can be surreal sometimes
"It is a little bit surreal to know that you are in your own little spaceship and a few inches from you is instant death."
This is a response to the question,
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
Kenyan government rejects calls to ban TikTok, recommends tighter control over
Congo accuses Apple of conflict minerals in its supply chain
Top 10 African countries with the highest fuel prices in April 2024
The gold trade in Uganda makes a huge comeback
Best live dealer casino: Top USA live casinos online
Best real money online casinos USA: Top 10 casino sites in 2024
OPEC excited about partnership with Namibia
The US loses to Russia and China in popularity across Africa