Before returning to Earth, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly joked that one of the benefits of spending time in space is that you get taller. So how much taller is he after spending 340 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station? According to NASA’s Jeff Williams, Kelly can (temporarily) gloat that he’s two inches taller than he was before leaving Earth almost a year ago.
Williams explained that astronauts get taller in space as the spine elongates due to weightlessness. Unfortunately for Kelly, who has a twin brother, he’ll soon return to his preflight height now that he has safely returned to Earth.
Kelly returned to Earth earlier this week after spending 340 days in space. How his body was affected by the long-duration spaceflight will now be assessed over the coming twelve months, where results from upcoming tests will be compared to his twin, Mark, who is a former astronaut himself.
You can learn more about Kelly’s accomplishments in the links below, and don’t forget to check out some of the amazing photos he took during his time in space.
More Scott Kelly…
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Scott Kelly safely returns to Earth after 340 days aboard the ISS
Late last night, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly safely returned to Earth following 340 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station. The mission will provide scientists with invaluable data about deep space exploration and whether or not humans can actually survive long-duration…
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Watch Scott Kelly return to Earth after nearly a year in space
Scott Kelly had one hell of a year in Space but now it’s time to come home. The NASA astronaut, along with cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, will say goodbye to the International Space Station later today in the hopes of returning…
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After nearly a year in space, Scott Kelly prepares for his return
On March 1, 2016, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will return to Earth after spending 340 days in space, which is about twice as long as a typical U.S. mission. It’s a rare accomplishment, and it makes Kelly the first American…
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