New York:
For the first time in the history of space travel, two US astronauts who are also twins, will be flying in space at the same time
If all goes as scheduled, Mark Kelly will be commanding space shuttle Endeavour as it docks with the International Space Station in February next year.
His twin brother, Scott, will be there to greet him, in his role as commander of the mission on board the International Space Station.
Mark and Scott Kelly have been with the astronaut program for almost 20 years.
They have both flown in previous missions as pilots or commanders on Endeavour.
Next February, under the command of Mark Kelly, Endeavour will help complete the construction of the ISS.
"We're going to do three space walks, transfer a bunch of cargo, and bring home a bunch of stuff. We've been working for over a year now to prepare for this", explained Mark.
The fact that they are twins brings renewed attention to the space program.
According to Scott Kelly, the brothers don't think about their relationship while training for their missions, "It's kind of a neat thing, but certainly, not the, by any stretch of the imagination, the focus of these missions and its definitely something that we really never expected to happen".
Scott will go into space first, launching from Russia in early October. He will be halfway through his 6 month mission when his brother shows up on the International Space Station.
"It's more of a marathon...than a sprint", Scott jokes.
Once the construction work on the ISS is completed, and Space Shuttle Endeavour departs, it could mark the end of shuttle flights to the 12-year-old space station.
Mark Kelly thinks it would then be a good point to retire Endeavour from service.
The brothers say they are looking forward to new developments in the space programme, with new space craft to fly and new missions to fulfil, either together or in separate assignments.
If all goes as scheduled, Mark Kelly will be commanding space shuttle Endeavour as it docks with the International Space Station in February next year.
His twin brother, Scott, will be there to greet him, in his role as commander of the mission on board the International Space Station.
Mark and Scott Kelly have been with the astronaut program for almost 20 years.
They have both flown in previous missions as pilots or commanders on Endeavour.
Next February, under the command of Mark Kelly, Endeavour will help complete the construction of the ISS.
"We're going to do three space walks, transfer a bunch of cargo, and bring home a bunch of stuff. We've been working for over a year now to prepare for this", explained Mark.
The fact that they are twins brings renewed attention to the space program.
According to Scott Kelly, the brothers don't think about their relationship while training for their missions, "It's kind of a neat thing, but certainly, not the, by any stretch of the imagination, the focus of these missions and its definitely something that we really never expected to happen".
Scott will go into space first, launching from Russia in early October. He will be halfway through his 6 month mission when his brother shows up on the International Space Station.
"It's more of a marathon...than a sprint", Scott jokes.
Once the construction work on the ISS is completed, and Space Shuttle Endeavour departs, it could mark the end of shuttle flights to the 12-year-old space station.
Mark Kelly thinks it would then be a good point to retire Endeavour from service.
The brothers say they are looking forward to new developments in the space programme, with new space craft to fly and new missions to fulfil, either together or in separate assignments.
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