See You Next Year

Every person knows about the International Space Station and the many men and women that are sent up to it each year.  However many people probably do not know that they are only up in space for a couple months and then are brought back home.  This March will be the first time in history that two astronauts will be sent up to the ISS for a full year.  Their mission is to conduct experiments in space but they are also part of an experiment.  NASA will be closely observing the ways in which NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko bodies will change during their year in space.  This test will give NASA information on how an astronaut's body will change during a deep space mission such as traveling to Mars.  With this information NASA will be able to better plan and come up with solutions on how to keep the human body healthy in the vacuum of space.  The two men will start their journey March 2015 and will be under strict watch until after their return March 2016.   

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (left), the Expedition 43/44 flight engineer and Expedition 45/46 commander; and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, the Expedition 43-46 flight engineer, will serve one full year on the International Space Station starting in March 2015. Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford