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Two Astronauts Return To Earth After Record 340 Days In ISS (technews.mobi)

An anonymous reader writes: U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian astronaut Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth Wednesday after spending a year aboard the ISS, conducting experiments for future missions to Mars. Mikhail Kornienko, 55, and Scott Kelly, 52, completed the longest uninterrupted period aboard the ISS since the station was deployed in 2000. Kelly, who has made four trips to the ISS, also breaks the record for cumulative time in space by an American, with 540 days. Kelly and Kornienko performed this mission to study the biological and psychological effects of long stays in space in order to prepare for future missions to Mars in 2030 or sooner. During their stay at the station, both were frequently subjected to medical examination and a battery of tests to study the long-term effects of micro-gravity on the human body.

78 comments

  1. Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    At this point these space stunts are the equivalent of flagpole sitting.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    OK, so what?

    1. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Informative

      At this point these space stunts are the equivalent of flagpole sitting.

      What was not in TFS and IS important is that Scott's identical twin brother (a retired astronaut himself) remained on Earth all this time. So NASA is doing comparative studies between the two of them. This was no stunt but instead a carefully crafted experiment.

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    2. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I could also carefully craft the same experiment with a twin living in a submarine.

      So you have an anti-gravity submarine just lying around somewhere that can be used for these experiments?

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    3. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 1

      How is that relevant to anyone?

      You said you could do the same experiment in a submarine. So I'm calling you on the part where one of the subjects was in zero G for the duration.

      All 7 billion of us will live and die right here.

      Seriously? FFS you are questioning fundamental scientific research because it isn't going to produce something tangible right this very minute that is applicable to the entire population of Earth.?

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    4. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Was the brother confined within a control space, so everything aside from microgravity and speed were the same?

      It's a freaking stunt. As a program, NASA has gone backwards since the 1960s. The Nazi scientists were the real brains behind the operations, and now that they're gone, the locals have trashed their legacy.

    5. Re:Who gives a shit? by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Your honor, I object." "On what grounds?" "It's devastating to my case!"

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    6. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The same boring, tiresome "research" has been done already.

      Umm??? If it was already done then why did they repeat it? I certainly haven't heard of identical twins being tested like this before. Or is there some sort of astronaut pork barrel funding conspiracy I am not aware of?

      OK, now what? You're gonna do it again, and again, and again, pretexting "science" when you know very well that you have your bags packed for Mars.

      My bags are packed for my 3 hour drive home tomorrow, not for Mars.

      Stop being a disingenuous fool. Funny how medical research usually involves animal models, you could get all your precious free-fall science from a mouse model as well. For a lot cheaper.

      Yeah medical science uses animal models. But only when it is impractical or impossible or unethical to use humans. And even then animal models are only an approximation to humans. Once the animal model has run its course medical researchers turn to testing humans. So I posit that you are the one being disingenuous in saying that this research could be done cheaper with animals - because eventually they would have to send up a human in order to collect actual human data. In effect they have saved money by skipping a lot of unnecessary animal model approximations.

      Oh but then you can't hero-worship Steve Austin, Astronaut, like you had on your grade-school lunch box.

      Sorry, Stevo was a bit after my time in grade school. Nice try with the attempted ad-hom, but you failed in your basic research as to who I am.

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    7. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 2, Informative

      Was the brother confined within a control space, so everything aside from microgravity and speed were the same?

      Instead of being a pedantic douchenozzle why don't you go and read up on the NASA Twins Study itself and then come back here and report on everything that NASA did wrong?

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    8. Re:Who gives a shit? by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

      There is not any point arguing with the AC if he is too stupid to realise that there is still gravity underwater and it is only infinitesimally changed by water depth... Perhaps he thinks his personal buoyancy will make him weightless when he is inside a sub?

    9. Re:Who gives a shit? by OzPeter · · Score: 1

      There is not any point arguing with the AC

      I dunno, making him jump through hoops is pretty entertaining.

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    10. Re:Who gives a shit? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      What flagpole sitter has been in microgravity the whole time? We need to know the effects of long-term exposure.

    11. Re:Who gives a shit? by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      Oh of course, yes. And how useful is it, never mind how carefully crafted? I could also carefully craft the same experiment with a twin living in a submarine. Who gives a rat's ass?

      Yet another reason why I won't miss AC posting on Slashdot when it finally goes.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    12. Re:Who gives a shit? by __aanbvm4272 · · Score: 1

      Such hateful speech from an obvious narrow minded know it all. Go back to your cave or SIT on that flagpole completely taking in ALL OF IT. Wisdom wasted on the people who need it the most. Tragic

    13. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Due to relativity the twin that stayed on earth is now (very) slightly older than the other.

    14. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do you comment on this topic, if you don't give a shit?

    15. Re:Who gives a shit? by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      Look, you'll just have to accept that government will spend a small fraction of it's yearly sports subsidy budget on silly passtimes like space exploration that few people care about. I know it's hard to take that your favourite sportsteam will now be unable to hire that new player because of this pandering to nerds, but that's just how it is.

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    16. Re:Who gives a shit? by bn-7bc · · Score: 0

      It's called increesing the sample size, if the have just done it once before, one datapoint is insuficient forr conclusion (individual diferences etc). You are right at this point in time the data may just be a cientific cureosity, but if we as a species ever plan to spend a significant amount of time in space (read years or longer) this research mey give early hints of medical benifits/problems befor someone i stuck on a n year round trip geting severe problems of onknown origin far far away from all but the most basic infermery/sickbay

    17. Re:Who gives a shit? by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Look at this list of NASA spinoff technologies that we use right here on Earth, EVERY SINGLE DAY:

      https://spinoff.nasa.gov/

      And shut the fuck up.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    18. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Scott Kelly is the most political of the very political astronaut corps, or should I say Russian Soyuz passengers. He is an Obama stooge. The last 8 years of the American space program have been a total disaster. Demand Donald Trump!

    19. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As long as you accept that it's means it is.

    20. Re:Who gives a shit? by justthinkit · · Score: 1

      The sample size of two was the deal breaker, for sure.

      To me, the most interesting thing about Scott Kelly's 340-day year in space was how public television had the whole thing on the tele last night...when he only just landed yesterday. That was some seriously impressive editing.

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    21. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The worst thing was to see the astroman with a Gorilla outfit happily kidding their ship mates around the ship. Assuming a 13 grand per kilo, that stunt was pretty costly.

      The point is: don't try to make science popular, or cool, or funny. The riff-raff will never like science. Don't put tax-payer money on these ridiculous stunts.

    22. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is NASA the only space program to have spinoffs? What have we gotten from the Soviets/Russians or Chinese? Maybe NASA is making stuff up.

    23. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Complaining about "hateful" speech when I can see the spittle on *your* screen...

    24. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      World War Two gave us spinoffs that we use right here on Earth, EVERY SINGLE DAY. Let's have another war!

      Do you see why your cargo cult science is bad?

    25. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We really don't, and we already do in any case. Why not send animals?

    26. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...but only if you make my twin jump through the same hoops in free-fall for a year, right?

    27. Re:Who gives a shit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If your parents had more than one kid that there is a crime against humanity

  2. eyesight deterioration by turkeydance · · Score: 3, Insightful

    most long-flight astronauts have some deficit. or maybe it's just a year older which does it.

    1. Re:eyesight deterioration by dsmatthews9379 · · Score: 1

      Oh that ain't the half of it, http://www.doctorwho.tv/50-yea...

    2. Re:eyesight deterioration by RivenAleem · · Score: 1

      Thankfully they have Scott's identical twin brother to compare against.

    3. Re:eyesight deterioration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bet they are happy to be able to take a dump without strapping a vacuum to their ass.

      First stop, a padded toilet for the best dump of their life.
      Second stop, a Cheese Burger, fries and onion rings they don't have to suck out of a straw. In fact, I bet they don't use a straw for the rest of their lives.
      Third stop, whorehouse to get laid. That or the internet to catch up on a years worth of new porn.

  3. And what are the effects? by no-body · · Score: 2

    Short term - loss of bone density, joint malfunction due to lack of use
    Can they now even walk without being carried?

    How many hours does someone have to exercise daily to make up for lost bone mass?

    Long term, who knows...

    Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY

    Boah!

    1. Re:And what are the effects? by lazy+genes · · Score: 0

      Short term memory loss. Making them work longer for less pay. A win win for NASA.

  4. Actually read the article: Isis Space Station? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "Kelly, who has made four trips to Isis Space Station, also breaks the record for cumulative time in space by an American, with 540 days."

    1. Re:Actually read the article: Isis Space Station? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah ISIS space station. Stupid journalist.

      Also, Cosmonauts still hold the records for cumulative days in zero G, and maximum duration. Stupid journalist.

  5. Thanks, Russia! by mpoulton · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's all give a big "THANK YOU" to Russia for giving us a ride! We apparently can't even do that for ourselves anymore even though we used to send people to the damn MOON regularly. So, yeah, thanks for doing our science and industry for us now so we can sill say we have astronauts.

    --
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    1. Re:Thanks, Russia! by Max_W · · Score: 1

      People in Russia buy the US iPhones, Windows, jeans, cars, music, films, etc. Where would they take money to do it if the US does not buy anything from them? It is called trade. It was invented in Mesopotamia about five thousand years ago.

      Scott Kelly's flight was part of a research to harden humanity against external threats. The Chelyabinsk meteor event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... left about a thousand people wounded and massive damages. There are several impressive awakening videos on Youtube. And it was a relatively small meteor.

    2. Re:Thanks, Russia! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You also can't pick your own fruit and vegetables, you have to import Mexicans in violation of your own laws to feed yourselves.

  6. Translation: DIGITAL DISASTER! in SPACE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are sleepwalking towards DIGITAL DISASTER and are too dumb (sic) to stop!

  7. Fail, 340 days is NOT a year by fnj · · Score: 0

    So, contrary to the summary, which is a lie, they couldn't stick it out for the full year, eh?

    What a wasted opportunity for a boast and the record book. "I stayed in orbit for a year ... well, er, I mean AMOST a year ... um, a long time anyway".

    1. Re:Fail, 340 days is NOT a year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yea, I was going to say:

      CUMULATIVE 540 (340 this stay) days to all and OP/SUBLORDS/BUTTNUGGETS

      That beats the last record by a few months. I think we really need to get serious about artificial gravity via rotation or cry suspension for anything beyond mars, or even mars.

    2. Re:Fail, 340 days is NOT a year by Max_W · · Score: 2

      There is no daily flight to the station. It is either 340 days or say 500 days.

    3. Re:Fail, 340 days is NOT a year by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      Which of the 57 states was he from anyway?

  8. There are alternatives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    America could buy a ride from China, or shove humans into a Dragon capsule, and stick it on the reliable Atlas V rocket. Considering the low volume of humans into outer space, I think it is cost effective to rely on the Russians.

  9. Re:"Mars" by khallow · · Score: 1

    Your first link, www.distancetomars.com stated it would only be 150 days. That's doable.

  10. How relevant is this? by blindseer · · Score: 0

    I expect that there is something very different from spending one year in space where Earth is always below you, looking so big and close that you'd feel like you can reach out and touch it, and being so far from Earth that if you held out your hand the tip of your thumb could block it from view. Scott Kelly knew that if anything went wrong, which was unlikely on a well tested craft like ISS, that he could hop in a capsule and parachute down to a soft landing on Earth. On a mission to Mars there is no such safety. That kind of stress would, IMHO, likely weigh heavily on most anyone.

    I've seen people that will claim to simulate a Mars mission by putting a space capsule shaped cabin out in some desert, or in the Antarctic, and have the people act out like they are living on Mars. This would be like me sitting in my basement with a flight simulator on my PC and claim that I'm training to be a commercial jet pilot.

    I'm sure there is some value in these experiments but this is a long way from a simulation to a mission to Mars. I'd think the best way to simulate a Mars mission is to go to the Moon.

    NASA did some amazing things a long time ago but that NASA is dead.

    --
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  11. Thank God they were saved by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Being held hostage by ISIS for almost a year must have been terrifying.

  12. 2 astronauts or a astronaut and a cosmonaut? by sittingnut · · Score: 2

    "U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian astronaut Mikhail Kornienko" should be "U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko".
    btw this is not just me being pedantic.

    1. Re:2 astronauts or a astronaut and a cosmonaut? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody has landed on a star yet, I propose calling everyone a cosmonaut.

    2. Re:2 astronauts or a astronaut and a cosmonaut? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody has landed on a star yet, I propose calling everyone a cosmonaut.

      Fscking commie! Boo! Booooooo! The obvious answer is "Space Ranger".

    3. Re:2 astronauts or a astronaut and a cosmonaut? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody has been in the whole cosmos yet either, I propose calling everyone a "test pilot", or "upper atmosphere tin-can tester". But that has a whole lot less emotional impact, eh?

  13. Lets not forget the Russians by vikrant · · Score: 4, Informative

    Four cosmonauts have stayed for 365 days or longer continuously in space during the 1990's. The record for the longest space flight being held by Valeri Polyakov who stayed on the Mir space station from 1994 - 1995. Russian achievements are often obscured because of the uncomparable public involvment by NASA.
    See: Ten Longest Space Flights

    ---
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    1. Re:Lets not forget the Russians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Four cosmonauts have stayed for 365 days or longer continuously in space during the 1990's. The record for the longest space flight being held by Valeri Polyakov who stayed on the Mir space station from 1994 - 1995. Russian achievements are often obscured because of the uncomparable public involvment by NASA.
      See: Ten Longest Space Flights

      ---
      Wanda Says:
      We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down, and worry about our place in the dirt.

          -- Copper, Interstellar (Movie) (2014)

      Well, let's see: NASA is an American space agency, and Kelly is an American - I'm sure the Russians play up their own cosmonauts' endurance records.

    2. Re:Lets not forget the Russians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't diminish what the Russians did, but what NASA is doing now is also not invalidated by it. They're comparing him with his twin brother who stayed on Earth. They utilized modern knowledge and performed modern tests and experiments on him while he was in space, and are doing so while it's on the ground. They've been having him test new exercise equipment, developed using experience and knowledge on long-duration spaceflight that's been gained over the years.

    3. Re:Lets not forget the Russians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I, probably like many slashdotters, have long been aware of the Russian accomplishments with Mir, etc. Fwiw, I've listened, when there is any reporting about Kelly and endurance, and have verified that the reporters correctly say "longest US astronaut" record.

  14. after spending a year aboard the ISS by phishybongwaters · · Score: 1

    "Two Astronauts Return To Earth After Record 340 Days In ISS" A year was 365 days the last time I checked. It's been years since I checked. How many you ask? I don't know because it really depends on what you define a year to be, most of us picked 365, but the summary poster decided 340 was enough. So now I'm going to have to do the math to figure out how old I actually am.

    1. Re:after spending a year aboard the ISS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well obviously, they're using lunar calendar....... (approx 355 days per 'year') .. oops still too many days

      ok, how about some old roman calendar (304 days per 'year') .. oops not quite enough days

      ok.. how about the wife's pms rages (approx 336 days per 'year') .. ding ding we have a winner.

  15. Media Bias. Holy Shit! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    340 days, yet this is the first time I'm seeing that there is also a Russian endurance astronaut. For the last 340 days, all I've seen has been about Kelly.

  16. Thankyou for being a friend... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For once the Golden Girls theme is on topic

  17. Re: "Mars" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I like space. I like looking at it at night, and I like seeing pictures of dead rocks on my computer screen.

    What I don't understand are people who insist it's quite important to have people in space.

    http://www.azquotes.com/quote/962225

  18. ISIS is getting desparate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kidnapping astronauts is the lowest of the low

  19. But What About the Gorilla Suit? by Smilodon · · Score: 1

    Did he bring the Gorilla suit home with him, or can we look forward to more zero-gee Gorilla appearances?

  20. To Boldly Go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where someone had gone before to do things done before.

  21. Re: "Mars" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What I don't understand

    to quote either you or the other douche upthread
    Who Cares