Game Changers with Molly Fletcher Astronaut Scott Kelly on Lessons from A Year In Space
Oct 1, 2020
Scott Kelly, retired NASA astronaut who spent nearly a year in space, shares reflections from long-duration missions. He discusses training and teamwork for complex missions. He describes coping with isolation, pacing daily routines, and trusting experts. He offers the orbital perspective on Earth and how mission clarity shapes priorities.
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A Book Changed An Undisciplined Teen Into An Astronaut
- A chance bookstore pick of Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff at age 18 redirected Scott toward aviation and astronautics.
- The book made him relate to fighter‑pilot test‑pilot culture and motivated him to fix his attention problems and pursue military flying.
Use A Strict Daily Schedule To Beat Isolation
- Do keep a strict daily schedule to manage isolation and maintain energy during long, confined missions.
- Scott Kelly followed a planned day with work, exercise, hobbies, family contact, and one weekend rest day to reset each week.
Prioritize Exercise And Light For Physical Resilience
- Do prioritize regular vigorous exercise and light exposure to protect health in isolation.
- On the ISS Scott did about 2.5 hours of exercise daily and noted vitamin D and light help immune function.
