February 21

Mark Kelly is an American engineer, former astronaut, and politician. He was born in 1964 and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Navy test pilot school. Kelly flew four space shuttle missions, including commanding the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour. After retiring from NASA and the Navy as a captain, he co-founded World View Enterprise, a high-altitude balloon company. In 2020, he was elected as a U.S. Senator from Arizona, succeeding his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. As senator, he focuses on veteran affairs, health care, and scientific innovation. Kelly's distinguished career bridges space exploration and public service. His advocacy for science and space policy continues to shape national priorities.

Scott Kelly is an American engineer and retired astronaut born in 1964. He flew four space shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS). From 2015 to 2016, Kelly spent 340 days aboard the ISS, setting a record for U.S. astronauts. His long-duration mission contributed to NASA's twin study, comparing health outcomes with his twin brother, astronaut Mark Kelly. Kelly has logged over 520 days in space and conducted ten spacewalks totaling more than 50 hours. After retiring from NASA in 2016, he authored the memoir Endurance and became a speaker on space exploration. Kelly remains an advocate for human spaceflight and research into the effects of extended missions. His experiences have influenced plans for future missions to Mars.