Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is "very likely" to attend the upcoming launch of the space shuttle Endeavour, commanded by her husband, Mark Kelly.
A spokeswoman for the congresswoman, who was shot at an Arizona shopping mall in January, told Politico that Giffords hopes to attend the shuttle launch. "Gabby is working hard everyday and making remarkable progress so chances are good that she'll be there," she said.
Doctors treating Giffords at Memorial Hermann rehabilitation center in Houston held a news conference about her condition this morning, during which Dr. Dong Kim said Giffords is "making leaps and bounds." Doctors said Giffords is now speaking in full sentences. Her rehab schedule varies from day-to-day; sometimes three hours, sometimes more. Giffords is "very upbeat" and focused on getting better, they said.
Endeavour is scheduled for an April 19 launch; it was rolled out to the launch pad earlier this week, the same day the shuttle Discovery returned safely from the International Space Station.
After Giffords was shot, NASA selected a backup commander for the Endeavour mission in case Kelly had to stay with his wife. But Giffords improved quickly and was moved from Arizona to the Houston rehab facility, allowing Kelly to continue his training and be near his wife. In early February, he announced that Giffords had progressed enough that he felt comfortable going on the 14-day mission and would resume training.
At the time, Kelly said he wanted Giffords to be in attendance for the April 19 launch. "There really shouldn't be any reason that she can't go to the launch," he said.
Kelly said he has the blessing of Giffords' family as well as his own. While on board the space shuttle, Kelly will have access to e-mail and NASA will likely coordinate one video chat session.