Meet Scott Kelly, a Guest of the First Lady at the State of the Union

Scott Kelly is joining the First Lady as a guest at the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20. Watch it live at 9 p.m. Eastern at WH.gov/SOTU.

Imagine carrying out hundreds of scientific and research experiments, every day, for a year ... in space. 

For American astronaut Scott Kelly, that will soon be his reality. In March, this resident of Houston, Texas will launch to the International Space Station and become the first American to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for a year-long mission.

Not only will he be conducting studies on cutting-edge technology development, he and his crew will compare medical data from Scott and his twin brother astronaut Mark Kelly to see how the human body responds over time in space. This research will help move our country forward toward President Obama's goal of sending humans to Mars by the 2030s. 

An astronaut since 1996, Scott has logged more than 180 days in space and has served as both pilot and commander on space shuttle missions, including a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. So he should feel right at home. 

The State of the Union 2015: Everything You Need to Know:

• Watch the exclusive enhanced speech live at WH.gov/SOTU on Tuesday, January 20, at 9 p.m. ET.
• Visit WH.gov/SOTU to sign up for speech reminders, ask a question for post-speech follow-up, and get updates on the issues.
• The White House is Open for Questions: Get Ready for Big Block of Cheese Day 2.0
• Share which issue you'd most like to see progress on in the time we have left.
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