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Scott Kelly, who just returned from his year in space earlier this month, has announced that he will retire from NASA on April 1. The former Commander of the International Space Station joined the astronaut corps in 1996. He made his first trip to space in 1999 when he flew on the space shuttle Discovery to serve as pilot for the third servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

His last trip to space lasted nearly a year (340 days to be exact), more time than any other United States astronaut has spent in space. Kelly also currently holds the American record for cumulative time in space, with a total of 520 days over four missions.

Scott's twin brother, Mark Kelly, remained on Earth while Scott carried out his year-long mission aboard the ISS so that the effects of microgravity on the human body could be studied in detail. Among other significant changes, Scott Kelly's spine elongated and he grew two inches while aboard the ISS, though he will return to normal height after a short time on Earth.

After retiring, Kelly will still work closely with NASA scientists as he participates in research related to his year in space. "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 said in a press release announcing his retirement.

"When the first Americans set foot on Mars, they will be following in the footsteps of one of the finest astronauts in the history of the space program, my friend, Commander Scott Kelly," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement. "After spending an American record 520 days in space—including his Year in Space—I can think of no one more deserving of some well-deserved rest and time on the same planet as his family and friends."

Rest easy, Commander Kelly—you could very well be one of the first statues erected on another planet.

Source: NASA

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