N.J. Astronaut Scott Kelly Returns To Earth

Scott Kelly returned to earth Tuesday after spending 340 days on the International Space Station.

Kelly, native of Orange, N.J., and Mikhail Kornienko of Russia, the other member of the One-Year mission crew, landed in Kazakhstan at 11:26 p.m. EST. NASA broadcast the landing live.

“#Thanks for following our #YearInSpace The journey isn’t over. Follow me as I rediscover #Earth! See you down below,” Kelly posted on Twitter.

Kelley tweeted 1,000 pictures while on the ISS, taking advantage of the space station’s unique vantage point. With an orbital path that covers more than 90 percent of Earth’s population, Kelly captured some breathtaking images of Earth. He was in command of the space station during the mission.

Other highlights include Kelly showing the world the first flower grown in space and eating the first lettuce grown in space.

The documentary “A Year In Space” chronicles Kelly’s time on the space station. It will premiere on PBS Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Kelly’s year-long mission aboard the ISS will help NASA better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to long-duration spaceflight and help the agency develop a manned mission to Mars.

One particular research project examined shifts that occur when bodily fluids move into the upper body during weightlessness. These shifts may signal a possible increase in intracranial pressure, which are significant challenges that must be understood before humans expand exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

Altogether, Kelly spent 520 total days in space. He set records for both consecutive days and cumulative time in space for a United States astronaut.

Photo: Astronaut Scott Kelly after landing in Kazakhstan Tuesday night/NASA