Shooting rampage could affect timing of shuttle mission

 NASA's final space shuttle mission could be affected by the shooting rampage Saturday in Arizona that left six dead and 13 wounded.

Mark Kelly, an astronaut slated to command the final mission of shuttle Endeavor on April 1, is the husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who remained in critical condition Sunday after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.

Doctors said they were cautiously optimistic about Giffords' recovery after she was responsive to simple commands. A bullet passed directly through Giffords' brain, from back to front, doctors said at a news conference.

Kelly has been participating in a rigorous training schedule leading up to his role as commander of the shuttle mission. He is currently in Arizona with his family, and it was not clear if he would return to training.

There are typically no backup crews assigned for the shuttle missions, said NASA spokeswoman Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters.

NASA officials have made no alternate plans for the April 1 mission because Kelly's participation has not yet come into question, Cloutier-Lemasters said.

"It's just too early to speculate what might come with that," she said. "Everybody's just focused on taking care of them and supporting them."

Kelly's longtime friend, Todd Fertitta of Landry's Restaurants in Galveston, said today Kelly was shaken by the shooting.

"Mark's a very, very strong person but at times like this it's testing for anybody," Fertitta said. "I mean he's just very upset."

Fertitta said Kelly would use his charisma and personal strength to help support his family. Although it was unclear how Giffords would recover, Fertitta said she would not want Kelly to jeopardize his place on Endeavor.

"Gabby would want him on that mission," Fertitta said. "She loved what he did, and she loved what he did for NASA."

Kelly's brother, Scott Kelly, is also an astronaut and is currently serving as commander of the International Space Station.

In a Twitter message from space today, Scott Kelly said, "I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, words of condolences and encouragement for the victims and their families."

Friends said the Giffords family had received an outpouring of support from NASA and the nation.

 Kelly, who lives in League City, trains up to 10 hours daily for his shuttle mission while his wife works in Washington, D.C. and Tuscon, Ariz. The couple have a strong bond and have fed off of each others' successes, friends said.