Former US astronaut Scott Kelly has been appointed as the first UN Champion for Space.
Mr. Kelly holds the record for the most cumulative number of days spent in space by an American astronaut on board the International Space Station.
Over the next two years, Mr. Kelly, known for his “year in space,” will help the UN promote space as a tool for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Champion for Space role is based on the UN Messengers of Peace model, whereby distinguished individuals agree to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the UN.
Other prominent UN Messengers of Peace include actor Leonardo DiCaprio (climate change), primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall (conservation), and singer Stevie Wonder (persons with disabilities).
