Scott Kelly will leave Earth on five years for a 12-month trip to the International Space Station with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko . He will undergo tests to compare his health to that of his twin brother , retired astronaut Mark Kelly , to see the effects of space on the body . But he will be leaving behind his girlfriend of Saturday , 41-year-old Amiko Kauderer , who works in NASA 's public affairs department . They said they 'll miss human touch but know the mission is for the greater good - and said they are already looking forward to the homecoming .
Scott Kelly will leave Earth on Saturday for a 12-month trip to the International Space Station with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko . He will undergo tests to compare his health to that of his twin brother , retired astronaut Mark Kelly , to see the effects of space on the body . But he will be leaving behind his girlfriend of five years , 41-year-old Amiko Kauderer , who works in NASA 's public affairs department . They said they 'll miss human touch but know the mission is for the greater good - and said they are already looking forward to the homecoming .