Mark Kelly to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Kelly fans. Speculation had been rife that US senator and former astronaut is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 62, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 14/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an astronaut isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an astronaut-politician just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMark

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouMark was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Mark Kelly was unlike any other astronaut we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMark”
— @universalObserver, 13 Aug 2026

“I thought Mark Kelly retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 13 Aug 2026

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