NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly to Retire in April

Astronaut Scott Kelly will retire from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration in April.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Astronaut Scott Kelly of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will retire from the agency in April.

"In his year aboard the [international] space station [ISS], he took part in experiments that will have far-reaching effects, helping us pave the way to putting humans on Mars and benefiting life on Earth," director of Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Brian Kelly said as quoted by NASA on Saturday.

Scott Kelly, who holds the American record for most time spent in space, will continue to participate in NASA research, the agency said.

"I am humbled and excited by new opportunities for me to support and share the amazing work NASA is doing to help us travel farther into the solar system and work with the next generation of science and technology leaders," the retiring astronaut said as quoted by NASA.

Kelly has logged over 520 days in space on four space flights, the first one being the space shuttle Discovery’s trip to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in 1999. His last mission (to the International Space Station), which started in March 2015, lasted for one year.

Kelly has received numerous awards, including NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, three NASA Space Flight Medals and a Russian Federation Medal for merit in Space Exploration.