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America's Space Champ Ready to End Yearlong Flight, Get Home

Orion Space Craft Prepares for Lift Off
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After nearly a year in space, America's space champ, Scott Kelly, is just a few days away from returning to Earth — and he can't wait.

Kelly holds his final news conference from the International Space Station on Thursday. He'll check out Tuesday, riding a Russian capsule back to the planet to end NASA's longest space flight. He'll land in Kazakhstan, then be hustled home to Houston.

The 52-year-old astronaut says he can't wait to jump in his pool and dine at a real table.

Kelly rocketed away last March on a research-packed mission. He lightened things up recently by donning a gorilla suit — a gag gift from his identical twin — and cavorting through the station. The brothers hope to go fishing in Alaska once things settle down.