NASA Station AstronAut Record Holders
Key Messages
Frank Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Scott Kelly, Christina Koch, and Peggy Whitson have spent an extended amount of time in space, helping to pave the way for even longer, future exploration missions. Their missions help researchers better understand how the human body adapts to the extreme environment of space for more distant missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Science Behind Extended Missions
Astronaut’s Record-Setting Mission Helps NASA Plan Deep Space Journeys
Spaceflight Standard Measures: Characterizing How Humans Adapt in Space
Record-Breaking NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei’s Contributions to Human Research Studies
Experiments to Unlock How Human Bodies React to Long Space Journeys
Through Artemis, NASA astronauts are returning to the Moon in preparation for one day going to Mars. To better prepare astronauts…
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Twins Study
The landmark Twins Study brought ten research teams around the country together to observe what physiological, molecular, and cognitive changes could happen to a human from exposure to spaceflight. This was accomplished by comparing retired astronaut Scott Kelly while he was in space, to his identical twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth.
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Astronaut Health and Training
The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space and a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth. NASA and its international partners have maintained a continuous human presence aboard the space station for more than 24 years, conducting research that is not possible on Earth.
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