Gifford partner shuttle bound

THE astronaut husband of wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has decided to go ahead with his shuttle space flight in April.

An official close to the space shuttle programme confirmed that Mark Kelly will be aboard Endeavour for its final flight.

Kelly took a leave from training after Giffords was shot in the head at a Tucson, Arizona, shopping centre on January 8. She is undergoing rehab in Houston.

Kelly spent the past month debating whether to step down as commander of Endeavour’s two-week mission.

Lift-off is targeted for April 19.