By Chanapa Tantibanchachai

Spend an evening with astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly at the University of Utah on Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016, at 7 p.m. in Kingsbury Hall. Mark will be here in person, Scott will be appearing via prerecorded video from the International Space Station. Tickets go on sale Jan. 13 and are available at nhmu.utah.edu/markandscottkelly. Their appearance is part of the 2016 Natural History Museum of Utah’s Lecture Series.

Tickets cost $6 with a valid UCard and $12 for the general public.

With 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircrafts, 375 aircraft carrier landings, 39 combat missions and more than 50 days in space, Mark Kelly is one of the country’s most experienced pilots. Today, Mark Kelly continues to secure his place in history as he partners with his twin brother and fellow astronaut, Scott Kelly, in an unprecedented NASA study on how space affects the human body.

Scott Kelly, currently serving a yearlong mission on the International Space Station, and Mark Kelly are participating in a detailed study of long-duration space flight. NASA’s Twin Study will examine many effects of space travel to identify physical challenges that must be overcome before astronauts venture to Mars and beyond.

Hear from both brothers – Mark Kelly on stage and Scott Kelly from the International Space Station via prerecorded footage as they discuss their experience in space, the Twin Study, the U.S. space program and a future mission to Mars.

Chanapa Tantibanchachai is an associate science writer at University Marketing and Communications. If you have an interesting story idea, email her at chanapa.t@utah.edu.