Most expeditions to the space station last four to six months. NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly one of those astronauts and he spent nearly 520 days in space across four missions.
Scott Kelly and his one-year crew mate, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, are providing researchers an unprecedented opportunity to better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to long-duration spaceflight. Here’s some favorite snapshots from Kelly’s year in space, all of these pictures are taken from the International Space Station.
1. Flag Day From Space
On the International Space Station June 14, 2015 the crew of Expedition 44 prepare to observe Flag Day in the USA in the Cupola, the 360-degree observation point.
2. Aurora From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on June 27, 2015 with the caption, “Day 92. #Aurora is back in town. Good night from @space_station!”
3. Moon From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this picture of the moon taken from the International Space Station with the caption, “Day 97. Good night, Moon. Good night from @Space_Station!”
4. Greece From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of Athens, Greece taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on July 12, 2015 with the caption, “#Athens, #Greece, #GoodMorning from @Space_Station. Wishing you the best.”
5. Moonrise From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of a moonrise from the International Space Station to Twitter on July 17, 2015 with the caption, “Day 112. #Moonrise is upon us. Good night from @space_station!”
6. Aurora From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this picture taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on July 13, 2015 with the caption, “#GoodMorning #Aurora! Good to see you again.”
7. Sunset From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on August 1, 2015 with the caption, “Day 127. Sunset returns! Perfect end. Thanks again for joining me today. Good night from @space_station!”
8. Bahamas From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this picture of the Bahamas taken from the International Space Station on Twitter on July 19, 2015 with the caption, “#Bahamas, the strokes of your watercolors are always a refreshing sight.”
9. Planets From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on July 19, 2015 with the caption, “Day 114. #Moon #Venus #Jupiter…#Earth Good night from @space_station!”
10. Night Earth Observation Of Japan
Night Earth observation of Japan taken by Expedition 44 crewmember Scott Kelly, with a Soyuz Spacecraft connected to the Mini Research Module 1 (MRM1), and a Progress Spacecraft visible.
Kelly posted this photo to Twitter on July 25 with the caption, “#Goodevening #Japan. Showing @Astro_Kimiya how to take pictures of #Earth at night.”
11. Milky Way From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo to Twitter on August 9, 2015 with the caption, “Day 135. #MilkyWay. You’re old, dusty, gassy and warped. But beautiful. Good night from @space_station!”
12. USA From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on August 10, 2015 with the caption, “#GoodMorning to those in the western #USA. Looks like there’s a lot going on down there.”
13. Atmosphere From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Sept. 5, 2015 with the caption, “#goodnight #Earth! Make me proud and I’ll try and do the same.”
14. Perseid Meteor Shower From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of the Perseid meteor shower taken from the International Space Station on Instagram with the caption, “Space weather forecast from @ISS: Moonless with a chance of #Perseid meteors!”
15. Aurora From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of an aurora taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on August 15, 2015 with the caption, “Another pass through #Aurora. The sun is very active today, apparently.”
16. Gravity
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken inside the International Space Station after a cargo delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables on Instagram with the caption, “#TuesdayTransformation Enjoying the fruits of labor, literally.”
17. Aurora From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of an aurora taken from the International Space Station to Instagram with the caption, “Day 154. #Aurora’s purple glow adds mystery to the nightscape. Good night from @ISS!”
18. Spain From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of Spain taken from the International Space Station on Instagram with the caption, “Color palette of the #Spanish coast is an appealing morning view. #GoodMorning from @ISS!”
19. Italy From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly took this photo of Italy from the International Space Station and posted it on Twitter saying, “Day 180. Moonlight over Italy. #BuonaNotte Good night from @space_station!”
20. Solar Panels Of Russia
The International Space Station crew witness nightly scenes of our Earth’s beauty after performing their duties. Here on Oct. 6, 2015, framed by the edge of a huge Station solar panel, the city of Moscow, Russia sparkles in the night with spoke streets streaming out across the land while an aurora of blue, white and purple contrast the star-filled sky.
21. New York City From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of New York City from the International Space Station on Twitter with the caption, “My cosmonaut colleague Oleg Kononenko took this incredible picture of #NYC last night. Enjoy.”
22. Egypt From Space
Earth observation taken during a day pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
23. Earth From Space
Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
24. Soyuz Silhouette And Sunset Colors
Earth observation taken during a day pass by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly aboard the International Space Station. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft dominates the center of the view as it sits docked to the station.
25. Houston And The Gulf Coast From Space
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took a photo of Houston and the Gulf Coast as the International Space Station flew overhead.
26. Himalayas From Space
Earth observation taken during a day pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
27. Earth From Space
Earth observation taken during a day pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo on Twitter with the caption, “Day 289. Out over the blue. #GoodNight from @space_station!”
28. Bahamas From Space
In orbit around the Earth onboard the International Space Station NASA astronaut Scott Kelly captured this blue water image in his “Earth Art” series and tweeted it out with this message: ” A splash of #EarthArt over the #Bahamas!”
29. Zinnia Flower In Cupola Window
Close-up view of Zinnia grown as part of Veggie experiment floating in front of the Cupola window.
30. Aurora From Space
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took this majestic image of the Earth at night highlighting the green and red hues of an Aurora. He tweeted this message along with the image: “The dance of #aurora.”
31. Blizzard Jonas From Space
“Massive #snowstorm blanketing #EastCoast clearly visible from @Space_Station! Stay safe! #blizzard2016 #YearInSpace” — Scott Kelly
32. Italy And Alps From Space
Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo on Twitter with the caption, “#Italy and the #Alps last night were breathtaking!”
33. Sunrise From Space
Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo on Twitter with the caption, “Day 313. A thin blue line hints a new beginning with #sunrise. #GoodNight from @space_station!”
34. Central America From Space
Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo on Twitter with the caption, “#CentralAmerica you were particularly brilliant this morning!”
35. Shanghai From Space
Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 46 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo on Instagram with the caption, “Day 318. Over a #Shanghai night. Wishes for a happy #ChineseNewYear! #GoodNight from @iss!”
36. Hurricane Patricia From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of the Hurricane Patricia taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Oct. 23, 2015 with the caption, “Hurricane #Patricia approaches #Mexico. It’s massive. Be careful!”
37. South East Asia From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Dec. 5, 2015 with the caption, “Just took this stunning picture of #SouthEastAsia.”
38. Mecca From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Sept. 23, 2015 with the caption, “#GoodMorning to the Holy City of #Mecca #Makkah! #YearInSpace”.
39. Soyuz Heading To Earth
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Dec. 11, 2015 with the caption, “The remnants of #Soyuz’s fiery plunge through the atmosphere. Congratulations on a successful landing #SoyuzTMA17M!”.
40. Glass Bottom Spaceship
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Dec. 26, 2015 with the caption, “Glass bottom spaceship over the #Bahamas! #GoodMorning from @Space_Station! #YearInSpace”.
41. Polar Vortex
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of the polar vortex taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on February 14, 2016 with the caption, “That #polarvortex even looks cold from here! #Burr! #YearInSpace”.
42. Super Bowl 50 From Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Feb. 7, 2016 with the caption, “Got to see the #SuperBowl in person after all! But at 17,500MPH, it didn’t last long. #YearInSpace”.
43. U.S. Blizzard of 2016
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Jan. 23, 2016 with the caption, “Day 302. #Blizzard2016 gave us an impressive view below. Stay warm! #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace”.
44. Sunrise
Astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo taken from the International Space Station to Twitter on Feb. 27, 2016 with the caption, “Of all the sunrises I’ve seen on my #YearInSpace, this was one of the best! One of the last too. Headed home soon.”
