Giffords' husband to return to space in April

[QueenBee]

I am sure this was a tough decision for him to make, and I am also sure there are some who will have a cow over it..but I say good for him. Her recovery is going to be long and hard...but she will be well taken care of while he returns to work.

(CNN) -- Astronaut Mark Kelly is expected to announce Friday that he will command the upcoming flight of the space shuttle Endeavour, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Who would command the April shuttle flight came under question after the January shooting of Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

NASA indicated earlier that it would hold a news conference Friday afternoon to announce the commander of the shuttle voyage.

Kelly was set to be Endeavour's commander before his wife was shot at an event in Arizona.

Kelly spent the days after the shooting at his wife's hospital bedside, and NASA announced that it had named a backup shuttle commander for the Endeavour space mission.

At the time NASA said Kelly would remain commander of the STS-134 shuttle mission, which is set for an April 19 launch, but astronaut Rick Sturckow would serve as a backup commander "to facilitate continued training for the crew and support teams" while Kelly was away.

Kelly is scheduled to be at the news conference Friday afternoon, NASA said.

[Lady Cop]

Godspeed to him and all the astronauts.

[Duchess]

I saw that this morning. I can't speak for her but really, when you love someone you want great things for them so I think she would encourage him to go if she could.

[QueenBee]

I agree, Duchess. I feel the same way. I feel he would be most needed when the time comes she can return home. Til then..he needs to get back to work. I read that the main reason he wanted her moved to Houston was that she'd be near the Space Center

[username]

If they had kids, I might feel slightly less enthusiastic about him going but I gather they don't so I think it's great he's going to lead the mission.

I wish they'd give out more information about her progress/prognosis. I admit to a certain morbid curiosity about whether she'll be able to speak, to what degree it affected her cognitive/physical abilities etc.

[QueenBee]

User, I heard they were planning a family, but she had not gotten pregnant yet. I think her prognosis is slow and steady. I did read from an interview with hubby that now that she is in rehab, there will be fewer updates while she is recovering..to allow her time to work on getting better.

[Lady Cop]

i think he just needed some space.

[Duchess]

Bwahahahah.

I laughed outloud at your dorky joke.

[Cracker]

He is going back to work because we are scrapping the shuttle program soon. Blacks don't like space any better than they like work or swimming in the ocean, so Obama nixed it. If he doesn't go now, he will miss his chance to ride.

[username]

Maybe they should open up a KFC at the space station.

[tweetpea]

Maybe they should open up a KFC at the space station.

Or take a load of watermelons!

[username]

By the way, I would like to point out that it was actually George Bush's fault.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rocketscience-05o.html

[Duchess]

LOL