Space flight by Giffords' husband may be in doubt

[cali]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The shocking gundown of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has left NASA reeling: Her astronaut husband was due to rocket away in just three months as perhaps the last space shuttle commander, and her brother-in-law is currently on the International Space Station.

Shuttle commander Mark Kelly rushed to his wife's hospital bedside Saturday as his identical twin brother, Scott, did his best to keep updated on the Arizona shooting through Mission Control, the Internet and the lone phone aboard the space station.

"I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, words of condolences and encouragement for the victims and their families of this horrific event," Scott Kelly tweeted from space.

"My sister-in-law, Gabrielle Giffords is a kind, compassionate, brilliant woman, loved by friends and political adversaries alike — a true patriot. What is going on in our country that such a good person can be the subject of such senseless violence?"

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110109/ap_on_sc/us_congresswoman_shot_space_family

[GSLevel9]

1. I wish he'd go and dedicate the last mission to Gabby.

But at the same time I understand his training and focus may not be 100% with this tragedy.

[MrsBrady]

3. i don't think i would trust him to stay focused...

even if he thinks he would be ok.

Plus, they have kids. I don't think he would want to leave them while she's in this condition.

Plus, there is always the big chance that something could happen to him...and then who would care for their children.

I think his focus would normally be on his wife and family.

It's too bad that all his training might be for naught. But one could certainly understand.

[PSzymeczek]

7. They have his kids.

They have no children together.

[pnwmom]

8. His wife needs him a heck of a lot more than we do.

Those missions are long -- they're not a day or two.

[Canuckistanian]

2. Her brother-inlaw is on the ISS?

Man, that's freaky. Just like the girl that was killed was born on 9/11 was a granddaughter of a MLB manager.

One person's insanity touches so many other's.

[SoCalDem]

5. I think his twin brother is on the ISS.. That's what was said yesterday

He & his twin are both astronauts..

I doubt that NASA will let him go . Her recovery will still be dicey for months, and since this last flight has already been delayed and delayed and delayed, they will not want to press their luck....or his..

[csziggy]

4. His presence at her side could help with her recovery and rehabilitation

If they are the loving couple that has been portrayed in the press, he will want to be there to help her get better.

Aside from any other consideration - whether his concentration could be compromised, worries about what would happen if there were another shuttle accident, who will take care of their children during Rep. Gifford's recovery (or in case of an accident to her husband) - I believe that the best situation for her full recovery is to have her husband at her side.

I watched as my sister dealt with brain cancer that damaged the portion of the brain that the bullet passed through in Rep. Gabriel Gifford's brain. As my sister lost her ability to retrieve words having her husband at her side helped a lot. He could help her find the words she had lost and helped her deal with the frustration she had to deal with. In my sister's case in the long run they had to deal with a continuing loss of function, but during the time she able to recover function her husband helped a lot.

For someone who will be working to recover full function for a long time, the person who is closest in their life is essential.

[pnorman]

6. Here's one of the images from that site:

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