Scott Kelly – anti - sciencefighter , prima science communicator , International Space Station ( ISS ) spaceflight record bearer , and casual microgravityprankster – is clearly a marvelous human being . He ’s now even more of a spectacularspacepersonafter braving the lawless land of Reddit , where he took part in an Ask Me Anything ( AMA)session .

In alignment with Biography at A+E Networks , the former NASA astronaut took questions from people , but instead of responding via text , his answers were filmed and document for all to see . As spotted bySpace.com , he was asked what the creepiest thing he ’d ever project while up on the ISS was . He suppose that it was a “ gal - sized glob of piddle commix with acid ” that he had to , rather grimly , clean up .

“ It ’s sulfuric acid that is mixed with the water … basically keeps the throne from clogging up , ” he contribute . Not on the dot something you desire to get into your eye . So what else did Kelly have to say ?

“ Well the first meter you launch , you think ‘ well , I ’m about to do the coolest thing I ’ve ever done ' , ” Kelly say , in reply to a inquiry about his mind just prior to launch . “ ’ Oh , and by the agency , I could get killed doing it ’ , ” he added .

Kelly also notice he ’s not a hoarder , in that he does n’t really steal or otherwise collect space memorabilia . “ I feel like I ’m space memorabilia , so I do n’t feel like I need anything else , ” he chuckled .

The former Navy captain also touched on the subject of the so - call Orbital Perspective , the revelatory feeling of cognisance often reported by spacefarers . Kelly describes it as being “ more empathetic to the environment and the human condition , ” take down that it did n’t needs make him smarter while aboard the ISS , but change him for the better .

The consultation is easy worth look out in full . It ’s strangely moving listen to Kelly ’s verbal description of a pipe dream he had while up on high , featuring his astronautbrotherand himself staring back , from blank space , at the ISS covered in snow and ice .

All of this is an interesting juxtaposition to the interviews I conducted with two of NASA ’s new astronaut nominee back in 2017,Jasmin MoghbeliandZena Cardman . Cardman , who ’s still in breeding ( alongside Moghbeli ) , said that she has “ no idea what to gestate ” when it ’s her turn to direct into space .

“ From what I understand , this job continues to feel surreal and imitation until that moment that you airlift off . But I think cause to see the curve of the Earth against that pitch-black background – it must be completely life - altering , ” she note . “ I ca n’t even imagine what it ’ll be like , but I go for I ’ll be able to convey that back home . ”