Scott Kelly, the NASA astronaut who recently returned from spending a year in space, will retire in April, NASA announced Friday.
Effective April 1, Kelley will retire from the agency, after a 20-year career. He currently holds the American record for the most time spent in space.
Kelly will continue to participate in ongoing research related to his one-year mission. He will provide periodic medical samples and support other testing along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly.
“This year-in-space mission was a profound challenge for all involved, and it gave me a unique perspective and a lot of time to reflect on what my next step should be on our continued journey to help further our capabilities in space and on Earth,” Kelly said. “My career with the Navy and NASA gave me an incredible chance to showcase public service to which I am dedicated, and what we can accomplish on the big challenges of our day. I am humbled and excited by new opportunities for me to support and share the amazing work NASA is doing to help us travel farther into the solar system and work with the next generation of science and technology leaders.”
Kelly flew in space four times, beginning with space shuttle Discovery’s trip to the Hubble Space Telescope in 1999. On his second mission, he crossed the threshold of the International Space Station for the first time as commander of space shuttle Endeavor. He returned to the station for six months in 2010.
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