NPC Luncheon: Astronauts Mark Kelly and Terry Virts

Photo Credit: Astronaut Scott Kelly joins a National Press Club Speakers Breakfast by videolink from the International Space Station. Also participating in the event are (bottom row, l-r) Captain Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency, Danny Selnick, organizer of the event, Jerry Zremski, Chair of the Speakers Committee Noel St. John

Photo Credit: (top row, l-r) NPC President John Hughes, Captain Mark Kelly, retired astronaut and twin brother of Scott, and Col. Terry Virts. Noel St. John

Photo Credit: Scott Kelly, twin brother to Mark Kelly explains how astronauts use the tops of their feet to anchor themselves in weightlessness aboard the International Space Station. Noel St. John

Photo Credit: In describing the difficulties of an extended mission, Col. Virts cited the precedent for reaching our goals within a decade and said getting to Mars is more a question of "political science than rocket science.”" Noel St. John

Photo Credit: Col. Virts explains the stress of living for long periods in the the confines of the space station and feeling heavy after 200 days in space. Noel St. John

Photo Credit: Though describing a Space Shuttle Mission as a two-week train wreck, Capt. Kelly declared his love for the Space Shuttle itself. Noel St. John

Photo Credit: Col. Virts describes leaving the safety of the air lock for a space walk, and the amazing experience it is to look back and see the earth. Noel St. John