Who Needs Dismal Conventions?

I cannot say anything from this week's convention in Cleveland provided a path forward or a hopeful future. With that in mind, I was happy to hear next week's convention in Philadelphia will include former astronaut Mark Kelly and his wife former congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, a victim gun violence.

This is a family that has seen its highs and lows, be it orbiting this blue marble to battling gun laws back here on Earth. They both lead an organization called Americans for Responsible Solutions.  The mission of this organization is to:

...encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership by communicating directly with the constituents that elect them.

We need more signs of responsible leadership this summer. I also hope we can hear more from explorers, inventors, and others who create that future. It is important we offer the next generation hope and show them the way.

Twin Test Will Assist with Travel to Mars

Tomorrow NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will depart from Kazakhstan on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a year-long journey on the International Space Station (ISS).  His twin brother Mark, also an astronaut, will stay on Earth for purposes of comparison.

In a Time magazine article, which profiled the brothers, the scientific mission was discussed as well (Mikhail Kornienko is a cosmonaut on the ISS):

On this flight, the time for distractions may be especially tight, thanks to the battery of 10 medical and psychological tests that will be on the agenda for both Scott and Kornienko in orbit and for Mark on the ground. Flight surgeons will run studies of cardiovascular efficiency, blood-oxygen levels and blood volume. Bone density will be monitored, as well as cellular aging and fluid shifts in the body. Sonograms will be taken of the eye and optic nerve to determine how those shifts affect vision.

Mood and mental shifts will also be measured throughout the mission. All of which should contribute to a better understanding of the effects of space travel. I doubt NASA has many twin astronauts waiting in the wings, so this is a unique opportunity to prepare for future manned space travel. We will all be watching.