Space is known as the final frontier for mankind. Many have made history and helped with advances in technology that have made journeys into space much more successful. In 2014, NASA selected American astronaut Scott Kelly to accompany cosmonaut Mikhail Korniyenko from Russia on a mission into space to find out what would happen to your mind and body if one were to travel to Mars. They launched on March 27, 2015. This expedition lasted nearly one year, making Kelly the first American to ever spend a year in space.

Recently on March 1, Kelly and Korniyenko landed back on Earth at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Kelly returned with noticeable physical and mental changes to his body. In space, spinal discs have the capability to expand without gravity pushing them down like on Earth. Therefore, astronauts that spend time in space can actually grow taller during their time. Kelly grew 1.5 inches during his time in space, making him taller than his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, who was on Earth the whole time. Once they returned to the ground, their height gradually went back to normal. When Kelly returned, scientists compared them to note the changes. Sophomore and twin Brittany Salmons said, “I think that what NASA did with the twin thing is totally cool, but I would not want my sister and I to do that. I would not like it because there would be a lot of stuff that could go wrong, and if she was the one to go up there and something bad happened, I would blame myself for not being the one going into space instead of her.”

Other effects from space included full body discomfort. Kelly suffered from very small cramped spaces and low gravity. He experienced feelings of his skin burning when he returned to Earth and a lot of muscle soreness and fatigue. In order to maintain physical health, Scott Kelly ran over 650 miles on the treadmill. Due to the lack of running water on the station, Kelly also did not take any showers when he was in space. Instead, they maintained their cleanliness using wash cloths.

 Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko’s mission has helped many people understand what it is that NASA is trying to do. Science Department Chair and Chemistry teacher, Lou McKeand said, “I remember in the fourth grade during class watching  the launch of the spaceship with Astronaut John Glenn orbiting the earth for the first time.  Then in the eighth grade watching the first man walk on the moon.  The United States had won the space race!  I am grateful we now have an International Space Station with different countries working collaboratively in a venture to travel to Mars.” Their successful mission is not over just yet. Scientists are still studying the new differences in the Kelly twins, and because of this, Scott Kelly has decided to retire from NASA on April 1. Until then, the both of them will be probed and poked at all for the good of the human race. Life has just begun.