NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Shares Bullying Prevention Message Ahead of His One-Year Mission

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Oct 24, 2014, 12:56 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is scheduled to fly on a one-year spaceflight mission in 2015, is lending his voice to help reduce childhood bullying. As part of Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, Kelly recorded a special message encouraging bystanders to take action.

"Be more than just a bystander," said Kelly in the message. "Take action and do something to stop bullying…Teamwork makes the dream work at NASA. There is no space for bullying."

Kelly, a father of two daughters, grew up in Orange, New Jersey, and feels his role as an astronaut is a valuable platform to reach students and help spread the message against bullying.

"I felt compelled to act after hearing about the various cases of bullying around the country last year. I thought of my own daughters, and I recalled my experiences as a child watching other kids bully others without accountability," Kelly said. "Bullying affects not only the child adversely but also stunts our growth as a society. It is everyone's responsibility to stand up against bullying."

The message will be part of a larger cross-federal agency prevention effort which includes the White House and U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Justice, Agriculture and Defense.

Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka will launch to the International Space Station in March 2015. Kelly and Kornienko will remain aboard until March 2016, supporting a joint U.S./Russian research program. The goal is to obtain maximum scientific benefits from the unique mission.

To view Kelly's message, visit:
http://StopBullying.gov
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpgjEm5aH3U

For more information about Kelly's one-year mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/content/one-year-crew

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SOURCE NASA