Astronaut Scott Kelly gives intimate look at life in space

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year in space, but he’s spending tonight in Tampa, talking about the things he has experienced that most people never will.  

Like what happens to your body in zero gravity, and what do you do when you get sick 250 miles above earth?

Scott Kelly stopped by the FOX 13 studio before his speaking event and joined Linda Hurtado for a live interview on the FOX 13 News at Noon.

In case you missed it, here are the highlights starting with what it feels like to be launched into space.

"It's incredible. It's indescribable," Kelly said.

Kelly went from average student to record-setting astronaut, launching into space in a shuttle, commanding the International Space Station, and setting the record for the longest spaceflight by an American.

“I flew in space a few years before my twin brother, Mark and, you know, despite him having pretty much the same background I did and me trying to explain to him what the launch of the space shuttle was like, the first thing he said to me when he got back and got out of the space shuttle was, 'I had no idea what that was going to be.'" 

Kelly says shooting toward the stars is not scary, but, “You definitely realize you are the pointy end of 7 million pounds of thrust heading straight out of the atmosphere." 

Kelly says his most memorable moment in space was, “The first time I did a spacewalk and saw earth from the outside of the spacecraft. It was awe-inspiring."

As was the last sunset he captured before leaving space. But he says it’s also easy to see that part of the planet is covered in pollution.

“You also see how fragile and thin the atmosphere looks. It's kind of scary," Kelly explained. 

The question begged to be asked: Has Kelly ever seen a UFO?

“Occasionally you do, but then you realize a satellite or a planet passing behind the atmosphere, so there are atmospheric effects that affect how things look."

Does he believe in life beyond earth?

“I do, but at the same time, I don't believe they visit earth. The distances are just too great."

Kelly says as a kid he wasn't a great student. He thinks he may have suffered from ADHD and struggled in college, but a book on being an astronaut inspired him.

He's hoping his book, "Endurance" will inspire another generation.  

For more information on his book, visit www.scottkelly.com