The launch of the much needed cargo resupply vehicle is delayed once more Saturday however this will not dampen the spirits of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is spending his ninth consecutive month in space.

Kelly is currently residing aboard the International Space Station for a one year mission in space, where he revealed on Wednesday that his sense of isolation has been offset by the recent success of growing plants in space particularly romaine lettuce and zinnias, in the orbiting space laboratory's artificial cocoon.

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Kelly along with Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko spoke via downlink with the U.S. Committee on Science, Space and Technology, describing their life at the space station as living in an environment that is pretty much devoid of life except for us.

Kelly reveals how there is the nutritional aspect of growing food in microgravity and then there is also a psychological aspect of growing something green in space that is living in microgravity and then later utilizing it for food.

NASA's goal for Kelly's mission is to produce valuable data how long term space travel can effect the human body, specifically bone density, muscle strength and vision and mental acuity. More especially, this mission will also determine the possible risks of a roundtrip journey to the Red Planet that can take more than two years.

Now Kelly has an identical twin, Mark, who is also an astronaut and is now undergoing similar tests for researchers to compare how Scott would have changed after a year in space. Growing crops and flowers are not just helping Scott Kelly's mental health but it can also provide essential food resources to feed astronauts while they are in transit towards Mars, that will not take up too much space or fuel.

Kelly and Kornienko left Earth in March this year and they have yet to manifest any significant body changes and deterioration in their health. Their 250th day aboard the space station was last Thursday.

According to NASA's inspector general, the agency is facing challenges in addressing the risk of space travel on humans where NASA should be able to develop countermeasures to minimize these risks by improving the collaboration of the life sciences offices and technical experts under NASA.

Scott Kelly believes that astronauts will be able to reach Mars by the 2030s, stating that it is still feasible and definitely achievable with expanding public support.

TagsNASA ISS, ISS crew, NASA astronaut scott kelly, International Space Station, cargo supply launch delayed, NASA manned mission to mars