Politics, The Environment And Tortillas: How Being In Space Changed Scott Kelly’s Perspective

The astronaut, who has spent more consecutive days in space than any American, says you don’t see political borders from the International Space Station.

By Joy DiazJuly 26, 2019 11:04 am, ,

The International Space Station has been home to 230 people from 18 countries since it began orbiting the Earth in the year 2000. Yet, no American has lived more consecutive days in space than Houston-based astronaut Scott Kelly. 

Kelly says being in space has made him and others who have spent time there more “environmentally minded.” Watching Earth from a distance also changed his political perspective. “I mean, you see countries without any political borders,” he says. 

The space veteran also says one food in particular kept him from hunger while in space. 

“I tell you, if it wasn’t for the tortilla, we would probably starve,” Kelly says. 

Written by Chloe Bennett.

 

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Kelly spent more consecutive days in space than any human. Several astronauts who served on the Russian Mir space station hold that record.