What it's REALLY like to be a NASA astronaut living in space for a year

NASA

What's it like to not walk on solid ground for a year?

That's one of the questions NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and companion Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko have set out to answer during their year-long mission on board the International Space Station (ISS).

If the men succeed in their mission to discover how a long-term, low-gravity environment affects the human body, they'll be the first humans to ever spend a full year in zero gravity, which is twice as long as typical US missions. Their journey of more than 143 million miles is critical in preparing astronauts for future expeditions to Mars.

So far, Kelly and Kornienko have spent more than 300 continuous days aboard ISS, and Kelly shared some interesting observations so far during a Reddit AMA this weekend.

Here are some of the most interesting things the astronaut revealed about life aboard the International Space Station:

Space isn't as scary as you might think.

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"I don't feel alone or afraid. I was up here for six weeks as the only American on the US side of the space station and I was fine. I have been afraid when the ground has called and privatized the audio generally meaning something bad has happened. So I have been a little afraid."

This is a response to the question, Do you ever feel alone/afraid? If so, how do you combat those feelings?

The Bahamas are just as beautiful from space.

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"My favorite spot on Earth to see from space is probably the Bahamas. The brilliant and varied colors of the blue water and contrast from here is pretty spectacular."

This is a response to the question, What is your favorite part of Earth to see from space?

Kelly's first meal upon returning to earth won't be fast food.

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"The first thing I will eat will probably be a piece of fruit (or a cucumber) the Russian nurse hands me as soon as I am pulled out of the space capsule and begin initial health checks."

This is a response to the question, What will be the first thing you eat once you're back on Earth?