--- title: "NASA Astronaut Is Beefing With Russia Again" description: "Space Burn Despite previous warnings to please stop trash talking Russia, NASA veteran Scott Kelly is once again firing verbal shots at the international foe. This time, he's taking aim at Russian leader Vladimir Putin's so-called annexation of several Ukrainian territories — and as one might expect from an astronaut, he decided to use an […]" date: "2022-10-01" modified: "2022-10-01" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-astronaut-beefing-russia" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "NASA" - "Russia" - "Scott Kelly" - "the digest" --- # NASA Astronaut Is Beefing With Russia Again ![Despite previous warnings to please stop trash talking Russia, NASA veteran Scott Kelly is once again firing verbal shots at the international foe.]() *Woman astronaut just landed for the first time in town - Italy, Lombardy, Milan - freedom, ambition, new planets, exploration, surreal \Image: Getty \* ## Space Burn Despite previous warnings to [please stop trash talking Russia](), veteran NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is once again firing verbal shots at his international foe. This time, he appears to be taking aim at Russian leader Vladimir Putin's so-called annexation of several Ukrainian territories — and as one might expect from an astronaut, he used an apt space metaphor. "I have annexed Mount Olympus on Mars on behalf of me," the celebrity astronaut wrote in a Friday tweet, adding a casual: "Just sayin'." ## Outspoken Guy Obviously, Kelly isn't allowed to annex Mars' Mount Olympus, our solar system's largest known volcano. But as we probably don't have to clarify for you, that's exactly his point. Putin's "annexation," as he [triumphantly declared]() in a showy spectacle at the Kremlin, has been declared illegal and rejected by Ukraine as well as, uh, pretty much the entire Western world. The US, Canada, and Britain have [already announced]() stricter Russian sanctions as a result. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time that Kelly has expressed his thoughts regarding Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He also claimed that a number of Russian cosmonauts — many of whom, like other current and former NASA astronauts, he's known as close friends and colleagues — have been "[brainwashed]()" into supporting Russia's unprovoked attack. Back in March, he even got into a Twitter battle about the war with non other than Dmitry Rogozin, who at the time was the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. In another interesting move, he [sold NFTs]() to support the Ukrainian defense effort. NASA, which has to work with Russia even during times of conflict, hasn't always been a fan of Kelly's outspokenness. Shortly after the former astronaut's Twitter feud with Rogozin, the American space agency reportedly sent their veteran what was effectively a cease-and-desist email — tensions between NASA and Roscosmos were getting worse, and Kelly was fanning the flame. But while the astronaut complied for a few weeks, it [didn't take long]() for him to get back on the vocally-anti-Russia train once again. And, well, it looks like the former space explorer might still be over the NASA muzzle. But hey, Roscosmos might have sank that ship themselves with the [onboard-ISS war propaganda](), so Kelly might think he's in the clear. **More on Scott Kelly:** *[Former Astronaut Says NASA Warned Him to Stop Criticizing Russia]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()