Scott Kelly is back on Earth after a record setting 240 days in space.
The NASA astronaut landed late Tuesday night in the Kazakhstan desert, with fellow Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov.
The Jersey native could be seen fist pumping his way out of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that safely brought the trio back.
After 340 days in space, @StationCDRKelly is back on Earth from his #YearInSpace mission. https://t.co/KX5g7yYnYGhttps://t.co/dhCfP1M6tZ
— NASA (@NASA) March 2, 2016
Today, Kelly will be flown to Houston's Ellington Field in the US and undergo a series of physical and scientific tests. However, he says what he is looking forward to most is jumping in his pool.
Kelly has been on a mission onboard the International Space Station for the longest amount of time for any US astronaut. “The hardest part is being isolated from people on the ground who are important to you,” Kelly said.
The Astronaut did balance that with stories of the most breathtaking scenes of Earth he witnessed during his time in space. Some of these scenes included spotting the northern lights, passing over the Bahamas, and watching huge super storms like Hurricane Patricia.
#Countdown 2 days & a wake-up! Getting closer to Earth & hope Mars too. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpacepic.twitter.com/9x3ERJgAvc
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 28, 2016
Day 309. #Aurora nights. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpacepic.twitter.com/l9INO5T3hm
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 30, 2016
He even chimed in about climate change and the Earth.
"I feel more like an environmentalist since I've been up here," he said. "There are parts of the Earth that are covered with pollution all the time. I saw weather that was unexpected. Storms bigger than we've seen in the past. This is a human effect. This is not a natural phenomenon."
In an earlier interview with CNN, Kelly said Earth's atmosphere "looks very, very fragile" from the space station. But there are opportunities to solve the Earth's environmental problems, Kelly said Thursday. "If we can dream it, we can make it so."
Well, Scott, that’s exactly what we’ve been saying over here at Global Citizen. Maybe you, me and Leo should meet up and grab a cup of coffee one day to discuss!
...Just a thought.
But anyway, welcome back to earth astronaut, Scott Kelly!
While, you’re lounging beside your pool, here’s a quick list for you of some good news you might have missed this year.
3.4 million people to access improved health-care from Global Citizen Festival 2015
More than 92 million set to be affected by 2015 Global Citizen Festival
Norway commits to air pollution reduction at Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day
Pakistan’s new law protecting women against violence may be a game changer
This chef thinks hummus can bring Israel and Palestine together
Here’s a quick recap of President Obama’s budget requests for 2017
Leo dedicates BAFTA award win to his mom and education
Piles and piles of life-jackets are powerful visualization of refugee crisis
European Commission responds to Syrian refugee crisis
Impact Report: World Bank makes $1.5 billion loan to support sanitation efforts in India
World Bank / IMF commit to lift 20 million people out of poverty
Manatees are no longer endangered! Proof you can change the world