Astronaut Kelly: 'Back at work'
Mark Kelly, right, posted an upside-down image of his shuttle training to his Twitter account.
February 7th, 2011
11:30 PM ET

Astronaut Kelly: 'Back at work'

Astronaut Mark Kelly on Monday resumed training as commander of space shuttle Endeavour's upcoming mission, 30 days after his wife was shot in the head at a political event in Arizona.

Kelly, husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, posted an inverted picture of his training Monday on his Twitter account.

"Back at work," Kelly said in the Twitter post.

Kelly announced Friday that he would return to his crew and resume training, saying Giffords - among 13 wounded survivors in a January 8 Tucson, Arizona, shooting that killed six people - is making progress in speech, occupational and physical therapy.

Kelly spent the days after the shooting at his wife's hospital bedside, and NASA had named a backup shuttle commander for the mission in case he couldn't return in time. But Kelly last week underwent a simulated week of training in Houston, where Giffords was transferred for rehabilitation, and NASA officials said they were confident that Kelly would be able to resume command of the mission.

Kelly told reporters on Friday that he expects Giffords to witness Endeavour's launch, scheduled for April 19. With NASA planning to retire the shuttle fleet, this is expected to be Endeavour's last mission.

"I have every intention for her to be at the launch," Kelly said Friday.

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Filed under: Gabrielle Giffords • Shuttle • Space
soundoff (54 Responses)
  1. Rob M

    ...and being away from your position as commander of a shuttle mission is not exactly like taking 30s days off from your day job at the bank. Ms Giffords (not Mrs Clark mind you) knew who she was marrying and all the risks and committments that go along with it.

    Two career junkies as "hugh" put it earlier up on the board? Maybe. But in order to be in those careers, you have to dedicate yourself to it much more completely than the rest of the masses who have the luxury of spending more quality time at home with the family.

    Our country would not exist if not for "career junkies" 10, 20, 100, 200 years ago...

    February 8, 2011 at 10:32 am | Report abuse |
  2. tomt

    Who do you people think you? You throw stones from glass houses. No one and I mean no has the right to have a opinion or a comment anything in anyone else's life. Should be no blog, is no ones business.

    February 8, 2011 at 10:37 am | Report abuse |
  3. Lonni

    It sad that people make unkind judgemental remark about people's business especially when we do not have the real inside story. I agreed with Rick V. When your love one in the hospital, the bills do not stop. This couple has responsibilities like any american couples. I wish Mrs. Gifford and her husband all the best.

    February 8, 2011 at 11:47 am | Report abuse |
  4. tomcat

    Don't worry about them they have a lot of money I heard she has been robing money and making false rafles to earn money what a btch don't feel sorry for her in hgh school she used to collect 10 buks for a blow so pls stop the bs and fuk you all

    February 8, 2011 at 3:50 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Cesar

    I think they should investigate if this btch is robbing cause nowadays everyone that has a high ranking job robs america the beautifull with their pockets full what a nasty country filled with corrupt people

    February 8, 2011 at 4:12 pm | Report abuse |
  6. mike

    What would happend if the shuttle blew up and she lost him for good. i wouldnt go, seems kinda selfish

    February 9, 2011 at 1:00 am | Report abuse |
  7. mad hater

    He'll probably meet some alien chick, that's what I would do!

    February 9, 2011 at 12:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      hopefully better than the astronaut chick in diapers driving cross country to come see you with a gun in one hand and a tube of boudreaux butt cream in the other...

      February 9, 2011 at 10:11 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Feenigal

    I really can't see how it matters to anyone but them. I want to believe she is healing well as reported, and that she would want this for him.

    February 11, 2011 at 3:53 pm | Report abuse |
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