Last Updated: 08 Jan, 2023 | Views: 1074
Age: 60
Profession: Astronaut
Other Profession(s): Rocket Scientist
Higher Education: Graduate
About (Profile/Biography):
Mark Edward Kelly is a former astronaut, politician, and captain of the Navy from United States who has held the position of junior U.S. senator representing Arizona since 2020. He defeated incumbent Republican Martha McSally in the special election called after Senator John McCain's passing. He belonged to the Democratic Party. Before being chosen as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996, Kelly conducted combat sorties as a naval aviator during the Gulf War. He served his first space mission in 2001 as the STS-108's pilot, followed by STS-121 in 2006, STS-124 in 2008, and STS-134 in 2011, which was the Space Shuttle Endeavour's last flight.
Career:
In 1987: Kelly completed his initial training on the A-6E Intruder attack plane before becoming a naval aviator.
In 1996: Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly were selected as Space Shuttle pilots by NASA.
In 2006: He piloted STS-121 Discovery, the second "Return to Flight" mission since Columbia went down in February 2003.
In 2012: SpaceX announced Kelly would be part of an independent safety advisory panel.
In 2022: Kelly defeated Republican Blake Masters in the general election for reelection.
Achievements and Awards:
Kelly has earned one Legion of Merit, two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Southwest Asia Service Medals, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, one Navy Expeditionary Medal, a NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and an Overseas Service Ribbon.
Unknown Facts:
Kelly flew STS-108, which was his first space mission. On December 5, 2001, Endeavour launched on the year's final Shuttle mission after a number of delays.
Kelly is the co-founder and strategic advisor of Tucson-based World View Enterprises, a company that explores near-space.
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