Scott Kelly (2016)

Hi Cmdr Kelly! I am dad to a couple of boys who are very much into space and astronaut work. Here are their two astronaut questions:

Peter (7yrs old): How long does it take to get used to being in space?

Simon (5yrs): Could a rogue spaceship sneak up on the space station without you being aware, and dock?

Why do you always have your arms folded?

Hello Commander Kelly. Destin here. I've noticed your photography skills have gotten pretty sharp over the course of your mission. I'm enjoying your Instagram account.

We walked around the ISS in building 9 before your launch.. How has the configuration of the Space Station changed since your launch?

I also know you're a fan of "Endurance": Shackleton's Incredible Voyage. How often have you thought about his men while you're on Station during your Year In Space?

As you know, the Astronaut application process is open and I, like thousands of others want your job. Want to trade places?

Stay safe Commander.

Destin

Hi Scott, thanks for doing this AMA. Could you tell us something unusual about being in space that many people don't think about?

Hi Scott! Thanks for doing this interview today.

My Question: What is like to work with members of other nations space programs? Do the poltics that take place on Earth affect your relationship with them?

Do you and the the other crew members play any space pranks on each other?

EDIT: In hindsight I should have also asked what those pranks were.

Being up in space for an entire year is a LONG time. Have you noticed any effects on your body from weightlessness? Are your plans for recovery once you're back on earth more intensive than traditional programs for other astronauts who only go up for shorter time periods?

I am Adam. I am 5 years old.

How far away are you from earth?

Hello Scott, Would it be possible for you to photograph the planets all in alignment over the next 2 weeks and post on FB and Twitter? I'd love to see them from your standpoint in space. Thanks. :)

What ONE thing will you forever do differently after your safe return home?

How are you doing this AMA? Are you directly typing it from a laptop on the ISS, or are is it being dictated?

What do you suppose the chances are of us getting to mars any time soon?

Dear NAStranaut Scott Kelly,

My name is Victoria. I loved your blooming zinnias. Excellent space gardening! I have many questions, but here are a two:

1. Do you stretch when you wake up in the morning from your space sleep? Is stretching just a waking up thing or does gravity make people want to stretch?
2. If you had a big scoop of something powdery, like if you were measuring out cinnamon or another powdered spice would it float around in a little powdered blobby cloud, or would it disperse into the microgravity air and be all over the place? Similarly, if you tried to use a salt shaker on you NASA approved dinner, how would the little salt pieces behave? Obviously there's no gravity to cause them to fall into your food from the shaker.

I remember reading that the one thing you miss most about earth is basically earth. It's too bad you guys can't have a nice lawn to sit around on in space, or like an ISS team pet. Have you guys thought about getting a little cuddly hamster or something? They spend a lot of time in their little ball, so maybe they'd be cool with a hamster space ball. I kid, I kid.

I'm excited for you to come back to earth so that I can read/watch all of the interviews. I hope you and the crew are well and I love following you guys on Facebook/Instagram!

Sincerely,
Victoria

Texas, USA, Earth

Greetings Scott Kelly,

When you were in high school (which i am atm), what did you focus mostly on? (etc. maths, physics, chemistry..)

Thank you for doing this AMA, greatly appreciated.

What's the creepiest thing you've encountered while on the job?

Hi, I'm a Kindergarten Teacher. My students and I have been following you since you went up last year. My past and present students are curious; what kind of things do you do for fun?

What's it like to sleep in 0G? It must be great for the back. Does the humming of the machinery in the station affect your sleep at all?

Hey up there!! What does zero G feel like on your body when you are just hanging out? Does it make your eyes open a little bit wider, or anything like that??
Thank you so much for your dedication to the advancement of human space exploration.

Mr. Kelly, what is the largest misconception about space/space travel that society holds onto?

This is so great! 1.How do you regulate your sleep cycles? 2.How heavy is your space suit? and last, 3. How well have you adjusted to keeping social relationships while away? Will you have transitioning issues with this when you return home?

Happy 302 days in space! And thank you for doing this AMA from space! So cool! I have two main questions; first question inspired by The Martian and character Mark Watney's mission length.

1. Upon completing your 1 year in space, if the offer was on the table, would you do a 2 year space mission in the future? And why? Would it depend on the mission (Moon, Mars, ISS again)?

2. Can you describe your sleep cycle over the last 300 days in space? Always a solid 8 hours? Did you ever get strangely tired or have you consistently felt well rested? Bonus Question: When sleeping, is your dream world mostly in zero-G?

Hi Captain Kelly, I have two questions for you.

You have had an amazing career including

• Flying F14's

• Becoming a test pilot

• Flying to Hubble and ISS

• Landing the Shuttle

• Spending more time in space than any other American

...What accomplishment/goal, space related or not, do you still want to achieve?

Also, today is your 302nd consecutive day aboard ISS, if you could go back and give yourself advice on day 1, what would you say?

greeting from earth mr.scott straight outta compton whats up?

What will be the first thing you eat once you're back on Earth?

The ball of urine I get, but... Acid? How? Where from?

Hi Capt Kelly!

My girlfriend who doesn't reddit but follows you on IG wants to know the answer to this very important question - what happens when you sneeze or blow your nose in space? Does it stay on your face like tears?

How many hours a day do you have to exercise in order to stay healthy in space?

So weird, just thinking 2 days ago whether or not you've had an AMA because I wanted ask the following question:

What are the cardiovascular effects of longterm space travel?

Is your blood pressure lower?

Thank you and I love your Instagram

Do you ever feel alone/afraid? If so, how do you combat those feelings?

We are big fans of yours! I watched the livestream of the spacewalk last year- amazing. Does everything seem to take a really long time or do you get used to that? What would you like to see the next president do for the space program? And how often do you get to talk to your brother and daughters?

How the connectivity from up there?

Hello Captain Kelly,
I would like to ask, does the ISS have any particular smell?

Do you ever have disagreements/arguments on board with the other crew, and if so what is it usually about?

CDR Kelly,
From two girls who are obsessed with science projects and art
Caitlin (7th grade): Is any of the food as good as homemade food?
Erin (4th grade): Does the moon look bigger from the space station?
Me: Will you continue to practice your new-found gardening skills when you return home?

Hi Scott! I'm a huge fan of your Instagram, and your amazing pictures of our planet.

My Question: What is your favorite part of Earth to see from space?

Also: Did you get to watch the SpaceX landing? What was your reaction?

What is your favorite space-related movie?

Also, if you had the chance to ride the space shuttle again, or take Orion on a journey to Mars, which would you pick?

Do you really feel the change in outside pressure when getting outside during the EVAs, where your suit inflates more and is it harder to move?

Do you have sense of stereoscopic depth, as to how far the earth is from you, or is it one scary and inconceivable distance?

What is one question you wish people asked you, or is just an interesting fact you would like people to know?

Amazing opportunity to talk to you, I'm watching ISS every time it's visible and flying over me!

Hi Commander Kelly. My question is:

Now that you are able to count down the days to come home in March, what will you miss most about the Space Station daily life?

What is your favorite David Bowie song?

Hi Captain Kelly,
What advice would you give folks aspiring to be astronauts?

Do you watch sci-fi while you're up there or does some of that stuff hit a little too close to home?

Captain Kelly, I have been hearing about the deorbiting of the ISS in the next ten years.

What is your view on how the ISS hardware/modules have been aging? Do you believe it makes more sense to deorbit the ISS or attempt to keep it going by replacing modules as they become too old to maintain?

Hi Commander Scott Kelly!
- If you could choose to, would you rather be born in another future generation where scientific/technological advancements have improved so greatly you could experience going traveling to another planet as an astronaut?
- What's your camera setup? Your astrophotography truly is out of this world.

What is your favorite non-space related movie?

Hi Scott!

It's safe to say that you're living a life many only dream of and I thank you for taking the time to answer our questions! Wishing for your safe return upon the missions completion! Anyway, my questions are;

• Out of all the things you've accomplished in your career, what is the one thing that you have done which you are most proud of?

• What are some of your favorite things to do in zero gravity?

and finally

• During a space walk what does it feel like having nothing but a suit (all be it a rather sophisticated one) between you and space?

Thanks once again!

Hello Commander Kelly!

I love star gazing, but sometimes it is difficult for me to do it from where I live. I bet observing Earth must be astounding, but it shouldn't be different from observing the universe, right? Do you like star gazing? How is it from the ISS? What about the shooting stars?

I love your work! Cheers.

Efraim Rodrigues.

Hello Scott!

I want to first say that you are a huge inspiration to me! I have been following your mission each day since you went up last year.

I know you guys have a 3D printer on the space station so have you done any interesting prints or any prints for fun besides the test prints?

Good luck and have fun with the rest of your mission!

Hello, Mr. Kelly. Now that you have experienced so much time in space, what do you think is your personal limit? How much time could you spend in space before you throw up your hands and say "That's it! I gotta get home!"?

Greetings Scott! Just two quick questions:

1. What has been the most surprising thing that you've experienced so far?
2. Have there been any misconceptions/expectations of your experience that turned out to be different than what you thought?

Hi Scott! :) First off, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, and thank you for the work you are doing to improve our understanding and appreciation of this vast universe that we, no matter how small of a dot we are, call home. I can't wait to read your answers to all the great questions so many people are posting right now. I saw the pictures you've posted over the past couple of days of Winter Storm Jonas moving over the U.S. They truly are absolutely breathtaking shots, and really puts into perspective just how powerful nature is (as if the two-and-a-half feet of snow outside my door didn't put it into enough perspective for me, haha). My question is, what is the single most breathtakingly beautiful or powerful thing you've seen from space? (If there is even just one - I can imagine you've probably seen so many awe-inspiring things from way up there that it might be hard to narrow it down!) Once again, thank you so much! :)