The husband of the US congresswoman injured in an Arizona gun attack is to lead one of the final space shuttle missions in April, Nasa has said.

The husband of the US congresswoman injured in an Arizona gun attack
is to lead one of the final space shuttle missions in April, Nasa has
said.

Gabrielle Giffords' husband Mark Kelly will resume training as shuttle
Endeavour's commander on Monday.

Ms Giffords is having rehabilitation therapy in Houston after being
shot in the head on 8 Janaury.

Mr Kelly's twin brother Scott Kelly is currently the commander of the
International Space Station.

'Confidence'
"I am looking forward to rejoining my STS-134 crew members and
finishing our training for the mission," Mark Kelly said in a
statement released by Nasa, referring to the mission number.

"We have been preparing for more than 18 months... I appreciate the
confidence that my Nasa management has in me and the rest of my space
shuttle crew."

The mission aboard the 20-year-old Endeavour is to deliver scientific
research equipment and spare parts to the International Space Station.

Peggy Whitson, chief of the astronaut office at Nasa's Johnson Space
Center in Houston, said: "We are glad to have Mark back. He is a
veteran shuttle commander and knows well the demands of the job. We
are confident in his ability to successfully lead this mission."

Mark Kelly was training for the mission, which will be his fourth trip
to space, when his wife was shot while holding a constituent meeting
in Tucson in the state of Arizona.

'Lots of progress'

Ms Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, was shot at a constituency meeting
Six people were killed in the Tucson attack, including a nine-year-old
girl and a federal judge, and several others were wounded.

Jared Loughner, 22, is currently jailed pending trial for the attack.

Mr Kelly, 46, took leave from the training to stay by Ms Giffords'
bedside. The former Navy combat aviator's near continuous presence
there led to speculation about whether he would withdraw from the
mission or remain with his wife as she recovers.

On Wednesday, Mr Kelly wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter: "Today
was a huge day for GG. Lots of progress!"

Scott Kelly will be back on Earth by the time Mark Kelly flies; the
launch is scheduled for 19 April and would last about two weeks. It
will be the 134th and final scheduled flight of the space shuttle.