Astronauts return after 340 days on ISS
After 340 days in space astronauts Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko safely returned to Earth early today.
Now the real research begins. Because Kelly has an identical twin, Mark Kelly, who is also a former astronaut, researchers will be able to gain a great deal of knowledge comparing the differences in how their bodies changed over the nearly full year, with one in weightlessness and the other on Earth.
However, what I want is longer missions, two or three years long, thus far exceeding what it would take to travel to and from Mars. Only then can we find out if humans will be able to make the journey safely.
Readers!
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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After 340 days in space astronauts Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko safely returned to Earth early today.
Now the real research begins. Because Kelly has an identical twin, Mark Kelly, who is also a former astronaut, researchers will be able to gain a great deal of knowledge comparing the differences in how their bodies changed over the nearly full year, with one in weightlessness and the other on Earth.
However, what I want is longer missions, two or three years long, thus far exceeding what it would take to travel to and from Mars. Only then can we find out if humans will be able to make the journey safely.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
They aren’t exactly identical anymore. Because he spent nearly a year traveling faster than his brother, Scott Kelly is ever so slightly younger than his sibling.
Blair–
Excellent point. Would someone maybe… do the math on that? Positive I could not, but do get the concept.
He was travelling at non-relativistic speeds, so it is “ever so slightly!”
I’m new here– but a fantastic bunch of informed & civil people, read this website!
Wayne, I forgot to thank you for mentioning on the other thread the old TV show “Time Tunnel” and this seems like the perfect topic to say it… ;-)
That was one of my favorites growing up, catching it in re-runs (I think it only ran for 1 or 2 seasons)
Also loved Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (until it turned into Monster-of-the-Week along with Lost in Space…. ;-)
And of course Star Trek TOS
Time Tunnel was classic Irwin Allen, big ideas, big sets, low budgets, and brilliant stories one week and silly the next LOL!
Steve My Man!
Only 15 episodes of “Time Tunnel.” (They could just never “get a signal-lock, on Tony & Doug.”)
“Lost In Space,” first episode is good but then it just goes rapidly down hill. (I mean, Dr. Smith was a Soviet agent, wasn’t he? Turned all silly…)
Yes- love my Star Trek. The best S-F show, of all time. (IMO)
(Saw the original Star Wars at a drive-in, but just couldn’t follow it after that.)
How about some “Dr. WHO?” I just can not get into the new stuff, at all, but enjoy the John Pertwee & William Hartnell era.