jendf
06-21-2011, 01:15 PM
NASA astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark Kelly announced his retirement from the military and space travel Tuesday, and said he plans to focus on his recovering wife, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and to work with her on a memoir detailing their lives before and after Giffords was shot in the head during a constituent event near Tucson in January.
The ever-sure space shuttle commander found himself feeling "a little bit apprehensive to move on and do something else," Kelly said in an exclusive interview with The Arizona Republic. "But this is the time for me to go . . . and do other things."
For example: "Two daughters who are in high school," he said with a laugh, and the resulting attention required.
Giffords is focused on getting better, Kelly said, and he'll handle the bulk of the book work, along with collaborating author Jeffrey Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal columnist who penned bestseller The Last Lecture and co-wrote pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's memoir. The book will be published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Giffords will be more involved as she improves, Kelly said.
More here (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/21/20110621giffords-mark-kelly-retiring-to-write-memoir.html)
I know he took a lot of flack for fulfilling his last Endeavor mission. I'm glad he was able to do it one last time and can now take care of his wife and daughters full-time. I wish this family the best.
The ever-sure space shuttle commander found himself feeling "a little bit apprehensive to move on and do something else," Kelly said in an exclusive interview with The Arizona Republic. "But this is the time for me to go . . . and do other things."
For example: "Two daughters who are in high school," he said with a laugh, and the resulting attention required.
Giffords is focused on getting better, Kelly said, and he'll handle the bulk of the book work, along with collaborating author Jeffrey Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal columnist who penned bestseller The Last Lecture and co-wrote pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's memoir. The book will be published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Giffords will be more involved as she improves, Kelly said.
More here (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/21/20110621giffords-mark-kelly-retiring-to-write-memoir.html)
I know he took a lot of flack for fulfilling his last Endeavor mission. I'm glad he was able to do it one last time and can now take care of his wife and daughters full-time. I wish this family the best.