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Astronaut Scott Kelly announces retirement after spending year in space

Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA delivers remarks upon arriving at Ellington Field, Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas, after his return to Earth. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
Mission commander Scott Kelly, second right, oversees the return of astronauts Tim Peake, right, of Britain and Tim Kopra of the U.S. after their spacewalk outside the International Space Station was ended early Jan. 15, 2015. (NASA/Handout via Reuters)
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is shown with flight engineer Sergey Volkov, right, from the International Space Station in this NASA image released on Feb. 29, 2016. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returns on March 1, 2016, after nearly a year aboard the International Space Station. (NASA/Handout/Reuters)
NASA astronauts Scott Kelly, right, and Tim Kopra shake hands as Kelly turns over command of the International Space Station to Kopra, Feb. 29, 2016. Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will land March 1 after spending a total of 340 days in space. (NASA/Handout via Reuters)
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, left, and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko mark their 300th consecutive day aboard the International Space Station in this NASA picture taken Jan. 21, 2016. The pair will land March 1 after spending a total of 340 days in space. (NASA/Handout via Reuters)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 11, 2016 - 3:07 pm
 

WASHINGTON — Less than two weeks after returning to Earth after nearly a year in space, astronaut Scott Kelly is hanging up his spacesuit.

NASA announced Kelly’s retirement Friday, which begins April 1. The 52-year-old Kelly holds the American record for most time in space: 520 days over four missions.

Kelly spent 340 days in orbit on the International Space Station to see how the human body holds up for long periods of time in space. His results are being compared to his twin brother, Mark, who is a retired astronaut.

NASA said Kelly will undergo periodic medical tests as part of that mission.

In a statement, Kelly said his time in space allowed him to reflect on what his next step on Earth would be. No future plans were announced.

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