Giffords Wants to Attend Husband's Shuttle Launch

Arizona Daily Star reports:

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wants to attend the April 29 launch of the space shuttle Endeavor, which will be commanded by her husband, her office said this morning.

"She wants to attend. Mark wants her to attend. We are planning for her to attend," Giffords spokesman C.J. Karamargin said today.

"She's always been supportive of his career. He's always been supportive of her career."

Giffords was shot point blank through the left side of her brain Jan. 8 as she hosted a Congress On Your Corner meet and greet at a Northwest Side supermarket. Six people were killed and 13, including Giffords, were injured.

Giffords is recovering at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston. Karamargin, who visited her in mid-March, said her progress since being transferred to Houston from Tucson in January is, "nothing short of astounding."

Giffords, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, attended Capt. Mark Kelly’s most recent launch when he commanded the space shuttle Discovery in 2008.

Kelly's upcoming mission is scheduled to be the last flight for Endeavor and the next-to-last space shuttle flight before the fleet is retired.