WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) praised the Senate’s passage of a resolution they introduced last week congratulating NASA astronaut Scott Kelly on his record-breaking year in space and thanking him for his service to the United States and his contribution to science. The resolution was introduced following Kelly’s return to Earth after a 340-day voyage aboard the International Space Station -- a record for the longest amount of time any American has spent in space.

 “I am thrilled that we were able to pass this bipartisan resolution to celebrate and honor astronaut Scott Kelly following his record-breaking voyage,” said Sen. Booker. “Kelly’s safe return is a proud moment for this outstanding New Jerseyan, for our whole state, and for the ongoing advancement of science and exploration.”

 “It’s important that we, as a nation, stand up and recognize greatness in order to inspire youngsters and future generations of what is possible when we push ourselves to excel,” said Sen. Menendez. “With over 100,000,000 miles of space travel under his belt, we commend New Jersey-native Scott Kelly’s dedication to science and exploration, and are grateful that a man of his caliber is representing our state and our country to infinity and beyond.  Scott Kelly is a source of pride and inspiration for all New Jerseyans.”

 In 1996, Scott Kelly and his twin brother, Mark Kelly, entered Astronaut Group 16 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Johnson Space Center. Prior to his record-breaking trip, Scott Kelly spent over 180 days in space over the course of 3 space flights. On March 27, 2015, Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko launched into space for a 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station.  This mission will enable the understanding of the physical, behavioral, microbiological, and molecular reaction of the human body to an extended period of time in space, which will be pivotal for future space exploration. Scott Kelly returned to Earth on Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

 

 

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are also cosponsors of the resolution.