Scott Kelly (astronaut)
The astronaut who spent nearly a year in space so scientists could study the long-term effects on the human body, pushing the boundaries of interplanetary travel.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American engineer, astronaut, and naval aviator·Birthday: February 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
Scott Kelly is the human guinea pig who gave NASA a profound look into the future of space exploration. A naval aviator and test pilot, he joined NASA alongside his twin brother, Mark, in 1996. Kelly's career was built on endurance, commanding space shuttle missions and serving multiple rotations on the International Space Station. His defining mission came in 2015 when he embarked on a 340-day continuous stay aboard the ISS, a U.S. record. The mission's core purpose was scientific: with his identical twin brother Mark serving as a genetic control subject on Earth, researchers could conduct an unprecedented study on the physiological and psychological impacts of long-duration spaceflight. The "Twins Study" yielded crucial data on gene expression, bone density, and vision changes. Upon return, Kelly's very body became a roadmap for the challenges of sending humans to Mars.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Scott was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Scott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Scott's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the American record for cumulative time in space (520 days) and single longest spaceflight (340 days).
- Served as commander of the International Space Station on three separate expeditions.
- Was the subject of NASA's landmark "Twins Study" during his year-long mission.
Did You Know?
He grew two inches taller during his year in space due to spinal elongation, but returned to his normal height after landing.
He famously cared for a zucchini plant named "Space Zuke" during his year on the ISS.
He published a memoir titled "Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery."
“"The hardest part about being in space for a year is being on Earth for a year without my family and friends."”
