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| Gabrielle Giffords |
Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded in the Tucson Safeway Massacre, has connections to the world of aerospace that are both personal and political.
According to MSNBC's Alan Boyle, her shooting will have repercussions for the US space program as the debate on its future grinds on.
Gabrielle Giffords was the chair of the House subcommittee that oversees NASA in the last Congress and would have presumably become its ranking member in the new. Giffords was an outspoken supporter of NASA and her programs. She opposed President Obama's cancellation of the Constellation program and the new Obama space policy. She was skeptical about the plans to rely on government subsidized commercial space craft to send people and cargo to the ISS. For that Giffords underwent a considerable amount of criticism in the media and among space commercialization proponents.
Giffords is also the wife and sister-in-law of NASA astronauts. Her husband, Mark Kelly, who is currently at her bedside, is slated to command the very last shuttle mission scheduled, STS-135. Her brother-in-law, Scott Kelly, is currently on board the International Space Station.
The political and personal future of Giffords largely depends on the extent of her brain injuries. She is likely in store of a period of rehabilitation, though prospects of full recovery as of this writing appear to be excellent.
In any event, Giffords will likely be absent from the Congress during the first critical debates about NASA future. Funding levels will have to be decided for the space agency for the balance of FY 2011. These decisions will take place against a backdrop of calls for budget austerity. Giffords, had she not been shot, would more than likely had spoken out for more not less NASA funding as well as a revisit of the Obama space policy that abandoned the Moon as an initial destination for human explorers. She will therefore be missed by many space advocates.
According to MSNBC's Alan Boyle, her shooting will have repercussions for the US space program as the debate on its future grinds on.
Gabrielle Giffords was the chair of the House subcommittee that oversees NASA in the last Congress and would have presumably become its ranking member in the new. Giffords was an outspoken supporter of NASA and her programs. She opposed President Obama's cancellation of the Constellation program and the new Obama space policy. She was skeptical about the plans to rely on government subsidized commercial space craft to send people and cargo to the ISS. For that Giffords underwent a considerable amount of criticism in the media and among space commercialization proponents.
Giffords is also the wife and sister-in-law of NASA astronauts. Her husband, Mark Kelly, who is currently at her bedside, is slated to command the very last shuttle mission scheduled, STS-135. Her brother-in-law, Scott Kelly, is currently on board the International Space Station.
The political and personal future of Giffords largely depends on the extent of her brain injuries. She is likely in store of a period of rehabilitation, though prospects of full recovery as of this writing appear to be excellent.
In any event, Giffords will likely be absent from the Congress during the first critical debates about NASA future. Funding levels will have to be decided for the space agency for the balance of FY 2011. These decisions will take place against a backdrop of calls for budget austerity. Giffords, had she not been shot, would more than likely had spoken out for more not less NASA funding as well as a revisit of the Obama space policy that abandoned the Moon as an initial destination for human explorers. She will therefore be missed by many space advocates.
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| Gabrielle Giffords |
On a more personal level, Gifford's shooting places the last flight of her husband, Mark, in doubt. It is NASA policy to ground astronauts who are facing a family crisis. Even though STS-135 is scheduled to fly in late summer, the training regime would take Kelly away from his wife for many weeks during a critical time of her recovery. It is a maddening conundrum that would not be wished upon anyone.
Giffords is just 40, relatively young for someone in the Congress. Even if she cannot serve out her current term due to the time needed for rehab, she should have a bright future in public service. A tragedy such as this can be the origin of greatness, caused by adversity overcome. Such we pray it will be so.
Information Source : Yahoo
Giffords is just 40, relatively young for someone in the Congress. Even if she cannot serve out her current term due to the time needed for rehab, she should have a bright future in public service. A tragedy such as this can be the origin of greatness, caused by adversity overcome. Such we pray it will be so.
Information Source : Yahoo
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