Tag: Mark Kelly

Symphonizing the Science: NASA Twins Study Team Begins Integrating Results

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Identical twins, Scott and Mark Kelly, are the subjects of NASA’s Twins Study. Scott (left) spent a year in space while Mark (right) stayed on Earth as a control subject. Researchers are looking at the effects of space travel on the human body. (Credits: NASA)

HOUSTON (NASA PR) — It begins with one instrument. Then another joins in. Before you know it a grand symphony is playing before your eyes. NASA Twins Study researchers are eager to integrate their results and create a symphony of science.

Preliminary findings were discussed during the Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop in January, and now enthusiasm abounds as the integration process begins. The investigators are a unique group of researchers with different expertise associated with genetic and physiological areas of study. (more…)

First Look at Results from NASA Twin Study

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Identical twins, Scott and Mark Kelly, are the subjects of NASA’s Twins Study. Scott (left) spent a year in space while Mark (right) stayed on Earth as a control subject. Researchers are looking at the effects of space travel on the human body. (Credits: NASA)

HOUSTON (NASA PR) — Preliminary research results for the NASA Twins Study debuted at NASA’s Human Research Program’s annual Investigators’ Workshop in Galveston, Texas the week of January 23. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returned home last March after nearly one year in space living on the International Space Station.  His identical twin brother, Mark, remained on Earth.

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Harnessing the Small Satellite Revolution

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Members of the NASA Ames Nodes Integration & Test team ready to integrate the Nodes 1 and 2 spacecraft (forefront) into the Nanoracks dispenser.(Credit: NASA)
Members of the NASA Ames Nodes Integration & Test team ready to integrate the Nodes 1 and 2 spacecraft (forefront) into the Nanoracks dispenser.(Credit: NASA)

by Steve Fetter and Tom Kalil
White House OSTP

Today, astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly are visiting the White House to talk to the President about developing innovative new space technologies. One critical area for technology development is making satellites more affordable, adaptable, and adept at providing the sorts of real-time information that will help advance knowledge out in space and on Earth.

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Boom Boasts Impressive List of Personnel

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Supersonic passenger jet (Credit: Boom)
Supersonic passenger jet (Credit: Boom)

Supersonic jetliner developer Boom has an impressive leadership team that includes veterans of Gulfstream, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Scaled Composites and other companies. The programs they have worked on include the 787, SpaceShipTwo, F-35 and and X-47A.

The company’s advisory board includes two former officials from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.

Brief biographies of the leadership team and advisory board members taken from Boom’s website follow.

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NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly to Retire

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NASA astronaut Scott Kelly performing checkouts for NASA’s Project Sidekick, which makes use of Microsoft’s HoloLens device. (Credit: NASA)
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly performing checkouts for NASA’s Project Sidekick, which makes use of Microsoft’s HoloLens device. (Credit: NASA)

HOUSTON (NASA PR) — NASA astronaut and one-year crew member Scott Kelly will retire from the agency, effective April 1. Kelly joined the astronaut corps in 1996 and currently holds the American record for most time spent in space.

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2014 in Review: Mojave’s Difficult Year

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Mojave Air and Space Port CEO Stu Witt (Credit: Bill Deaver)
Mojave Air and Space Port CEO Stu Witt (Credit: Bill Deaver)

“2014 will be a fun ride. We welcome you to get onboard, strap in and hold on!”

Stu Witt
CEO & General Manager
Mojave Air and Space Port
Jan. 9, 2014

Stu Witt had a lot of reasons to be optimistic as 2014 began. The Mojave spaceport was on a roll. On Jan. 10, Scaled Composites conducted the third powered flight of SpaceShipTwo in less than 9 months. XCOR was making steady progress on the Lynx and a new hydrogen engine for ULA, Stratolaunch was busy building the world’s largest aircraft, and other tenants such as Masten and Firestar had successes over the past year.

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NASA Undertakes Twin Study for Long-Duration ISS Stay

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Astronauts Mark Kelly (right), STS-124 commander, and Scott Kelly are pictured in the check-out facility at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center as the STS-124 crewmembers prepare for a flight to Kennedy Space Center in NASA T-38 trainer jets. (Credit: NASA)
Astronauts Mark Kelly (right), STS-124 commander, and Scott Kelly are pictured in the check-out facility at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center as the STS-124 crewmembers prepare for a flight to Kennedy Space Center in NASA T-38 trainer jets. (Credit:
NASA)

On March 7, NASA announced the selection of 10 investigations for the study of identical twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly and, in doing so, launched human space life science research into a new era. Although NASA’s Human Research Program has been researching the effects of spaceflight on the human body for decades, these 10 investigations will provide NASA with broader insight into the subtle effects and changes that may occur in spaceflight as compared to Earth-based environments. NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) will jointly manage this ambitious new undertaking.

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Virgin Galactic to Announce 700th Customer & Scaled Composites is Hiring

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mojave_tower_sunset_smThe annual Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s Business Outlook Conference — held on Friday at the Mojave Air and Space Port — featured addresses by Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides, Scaled Composites President Kevin Mickey, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, and spaceport CEO/General Manager Stu Witt.

Here are the highlights:

  • Whitesides promised a “fun announcement” next week of Virgin Galactic’s 700th and 701st customers. (fAny speculation out there among Parabolic Arc readers as to who they might be?)
  • Scaled Composites is now up to 540 employees in Mojave and is looking to hire an additional 70 workers this year
  • Whitesides said Scaled Composites recently transferred operational control of WhiteKnightTwo over to Virgin Galactic
  • A similar transfer of SpaceShipTwo will occur later this year after Scaled Composites completes the flight test program on it
  • Virgin Galactic is working hard to get its founder, Richard Branson, and his children to fly to space aboard SpaceShipTwo later this year
  • Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company are now up to about 300 employees
  • Witt debuted a new promotional video for the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Business Outlook Conference Set for Friday in Mojave

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Credit: Douglas Messier
Credit: Douglas Messier

A billboard featuring former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly advertises the Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s Business Outlook Conference scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21. The billboard is near the entrance to the Mojave Air and Space Port, where the conference will be held at the Stuart O. Witt Event Center.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.avbot.org/outlook-conference/

Whitesides, Mickey to Appear at Business Outlook Conference in Mojave

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AV_BOT_2014_Conference_Poster
MOJAVE, Calif. (AVBOT PR) – Senior executives of two companies partnered in pioneering civilian space travel and new commercial space business will be among the speakers for the Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference at Southern California’s Mojave Air and Space Port.

The Antelope Valley Board of Trade, organizer of the annual day-long event, announced that George T. Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, the spaceflight company founded by Sir Richard Branson, and Kevin Mickey, President of Scaled Composites, which won the X-Prize by being the first private company to carry passengers to space and back, have accepted invitations to appear on the program.

The two private sector aerospace leaders will address an audience of up to 800 at the conference, which also includes Astronaut Mark Kelly. Email vicki@avbot.org for ticket reservations.

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Mark Kelly to Give Keynote at Business Outlook Conference at Mojave Spaceport

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mark_kelly
Mark Kelly

MOJAVE, Calif. (AVBOT PR) — Capt. Mark Kelly, record-setting American astronaut, retired US Navy combat pilot, and husband of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle (Gabby) Giffords, is the keynote speaker for Southern California’s Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014.

Kelly, who commanded six NASA Space Shuttle missions, and is one of only two astronauts to have visited the International Space Station on four missions, will address an expected capacity audience attending the day-long business conference at Mojave Air & Space Port’s newly completed Stuart Witt Conference Center .

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Kelly, Whitesides to Headline Business Conference at Mojave Spaceport

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AV_BOT_2014_Conference_Poster
MOJAVE, Calif. (AVBOT PR)  – Senior executives of two companies partnered in pioneering civilian space travel and new commercial space business will be among the speakers for the Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference at Southern California’s Mojave Air and Space Port.

The Antelope Valley Board of Trade, organizer of the annual day-long event, announced that George T. Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, the spaceflight company founded by Sir Richard Branson, and  Kevin Mickey, President of  Scaled Composites, which won the X-Prize by being the first private company to carry passengers to space and back, have accepted invitations to appear on the program.

The two private sector aerospace leaders will address an audience of up to 800 at the conference, which also includes Astronaut Mark Kelly.  Email vicki@avbot.org for ticket reservations.

(more…)

World View Names Former Astronaut Mark Kelly as Flight Crew Operations Director

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mark_kellyTUCSON (World View PR) – World View® Enterprises, Inc. (World View) has announced that former astronaut Mark Kelly will be Director of Flight Crew Operations. A retired U.S. Navy test pilot and Space Shuttle Commander, Kelly will play a central role in the start-up commercial space business, which began taking reservations today for its accessible, affordable trips to the edge of space via high-altitude balloon.

During his career in the U.S. Navy, Kelly accumulated 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft with 375 aircraft carrier landings. He flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He later joined NASA’s astronaut corps, where he piloted two Space Shuttle flights and commanded two others, including Endeavour on its final mission.

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