Mark and Scott Kelly, brothers who are both veterans of four spaceflights, join CBS Mornings to discuss today's SpaceX mission and what they learned from years of pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.

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Mark and Scott Kelly, both former NASA astronauts, appeared at the Kennedy Space Center to discuss the upcoming launch of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. The brothers, who participated in NASA's twin study on the effects of spaceflight on the human body, reflected on their experiences and the traditions surrounding astronaut launches, such as the pre-launch poker game.

Mark Kelly, now a U.S. Senator, addressed concerns about NASA's future amid workforce reductions and the absence of a permanent administrator. He emphasized the agency's resilience and the importance of ongoing missions like Artemis II, which aims to send astronauts around the moon. Both Kellys highlighted the significance of international collaboration and scientific innovation in advancing space exploration.

NASA astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly talk spaceflight and science

and welcome back to CBS Mornings and a very special edition of Talk of the Table. This morning we're talking space with two people who know just a little bit about being rocket men themselves. Shortly after noon, Eastern NASA will launch its next crew to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Brothers and former NASA astronauts, Mark and Scott Kelly, have each flown four missions and were part of NASA's twin study to research the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Mark, of course, is now a United States Senator from Arizona and they join us from the Kennedy Space Center. Good morning, happy launch day. It's great to be here, thank you. Good morning. Thank you both for being with us. So, Senator Kelly, let me start with you. One of your old crewmates, Colonel Mike Fink, is part of this crew. You were both on the Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight. What's it like seeing him get ready to head back to space? Well, Vlad, that's why I'm here. You know, Mike and my brother and I, we were all classmates, got to NASA in 1996. We were in the Navy, he's an Air Force guy, but he was one of my crew members on STS-134, the last flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour. And now this is the next time he's going back into space, 14 years later, so I just had to be here to be here for him and his family and watch him launch up to the space station just one more time. Though I have to say, just being here makes me a little bit jealous. I mean, we figured, we saw your tweet where you sort of indicated that you wish that you could go up with him. Yeah. Yeah, Scott, we were... It's an exciting... Go ahead. Well, I was going to say it's an exciting trip, you know, to climb into a rocket, get strapped in, countdown clock gets to zero. You go from zero to 17,500 miles an hour in about eight minutes. Wow. And then dock with this incredible space station on orbit. It is an experience like none other. Yeah, I can imagine. We are jealous, that's for sure. Scott, we saw something a little bit ago where the astronauts were at a table, some sort of tradition. Can you tell us what's going on here? Yeah, so before you can leave to go to the launch pad, the crew, they're in the suit-up room and they play this low-ball poker game. And this goes back to the early days of the space program where the commander of the crew has to lose a hand before the crew can go to the pad. And the idea is you've then kind of got, gotten rid of your bad luck for the day. Oh. How did we not know this? I know. I mean... Look. This has been for decades. I didn't know this. And the fist pumps, that's so good. Scott, you have spent 520 days in space. What is the hardest thing about, you know, being at the ISS? Because we don't yet know when this crew is coming back. You know, there's a lot of things that are hard about. I would say the hardest thing, though, is just to be separated from everything that Earth has to offer. I mean, Earth's an amazing planet and you're separated from the, from the weather. You're separated from your family. You're separated from all these things that you hold dear. So that, I think that's the biggest challenge. Senator Kelly, let me ask you. Astronauts have always been my heroes going back to the early Apollo missions. But now this launch is happening as NASA is set to lose 20% of its workforce as part of the president's efforts to cut spending. And NASA still has no permanent administrator. What impact do you think that all has on our space program and the future of the space program? Well, we always want to retain the best people. I mean, that's critical to any program across government, but also in the private sector. I've been working with Sean Duffy. He's the secretary of transportation, but he's also now the temporary NASA administrator about, you know, what is the path forward for NASA? Just over here on the, right across the street is the Vehicle Assembly Building, and we have Artemis II, which is a heavy lift rocket with a capsule that's gonna take astronauts to the moon, actually around the moon, on this mission that's gonna launch next year. And while we're incredibly excited about that and about the science that NASA's doing, hey, you know, often projects and programs and agencies have to undergo some change. I think this is a time with some change right now. But NASA is a resilient and innovative agency, and I'm glad you guys are covering this flight today. It's always a positive thing when American crew members and our international partners are launching from American soil on an American rocket. It really shows what we can do as a country, and what this investment does, you know, ultimately. I mean, this is science and innovation really grows the American economy. Well, thank you so much, Mark and Scott Kelly. We so appreciate you.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Alaska

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv

Ukraine fights for a seat at the table ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his decision to keep fighting in Gaza, despite protests at home and abroad. Debora Patta has the latest.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu defends plan to expand war in Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair. Willie James Inman has more from the White House.

Anchorage

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

Violent weather hit several Midwest states over the weekend, with high winds being blamed for the death of at least one person in Nebraska and flash flooding prompting a state of emergency in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee inundated with floodwaters, one dead in Nebraska

Thirty-seven major wildfires are currently burning across nine states in the western United States. Firefighters have made significant progress on the Canyon Fire in California, achieving 62% containment and allowing over 4,000 residents to return home, with minimal property loss reported.

Major fires continue to burn across western U.S.

President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for ceasefire

Renewed anti-government protests have taken place in Israel, where relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded their release and an end to the brutal war Israel has been waging in Gaza.

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel Aviv

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv "values and fully supports" a joint statement by European leaders that welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to try to end the war, while emphasizing the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Europe stresses need to protect Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia’s proposal requiring land concessions to end the war. Ukrainian and European officials have submitted a counterproposal to Washington.

Ukraine, Europe counter Russian ceasefire proposal ahead of US talks

There have been more protests, and counter protests, in several British towns and cities, outside of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Some far-right protesters called for one of the hotels to stop housing migrants.

Bournemouth

UK: Anti-immigration & anti-racism protesters face off

A man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, firing into the complex from a pharmacy and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, according to reports.

Atlanta

Vaccine conspiracy could be behind Atlanta shooting

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

San Luis Obispo

Largest California wildfire of 2025 reaches "mega fire" status

President Trump is preparing to take another swing at a deal with President Putin during a high-stakes summit next Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will never give up land, even if it means an end to the war.

Trump: Ukraine must cede land for ceasefire; Zelenskyy refuses

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a rare Sunday meeting to discuss Israel's plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta reports on the conflict and the mounting humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza comes under fire

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

London

London:  Hundreds arrested during Palestine action protest

After almost four decades of a bloody conflict that until recently had no end in sight, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement in the presence of the US President Donald Trump. Notably absent in this historic moment is Russia, which no longer plays a central role in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan and Armenia sign historic agreement

Montana's governor said that the dayslong manhunt for the suspect in a bar shooting has ended. 45-year-old Michael Brown was taken into custody on Friday.

Anaconda

Montana bar shooting suspect captured after weeklong manhunt

President Trump announced Friday that he will hold a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska. The summit comes as Russia has been pushing to keep all the Ukrainian territory it gained from its invasion. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have the latest.

Trump, Putin to hold meeting in Alaska next week

The U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas in its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News' Jake Rosen reports.

New York

Trump's DOJ subpoenas New York AG Letitia James

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin said on Thursday (August 7), as the U.S. president seeks a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war after voicing mounting frustration with his Russian counterpart and threatening him with new sanctions.

Moscow

Kremlin says Trump, Putin to meet soon; Ukraine seeks role for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump's rushed deadline for Russia to strike a ceasefire deal or face more sanctions has arrived without much movement from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump deadline for Russia to reach ceasefire arrives

Protesters in Israel are voicing their concerns about a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta has more.

Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full military control of Gaza and push a new offensive, despite mounting international criticism over the war’s human toll and growing hunger crisis.

Breakdown