 |
| Gabrielle Giffords |
The trip will be the US congresswoman's first since she was flown from Tucson, Arizona, to Houston more than three months ago for treatment after she was shot in the head at a community event in her home state.
Her husband, Mark Kelly, told CBS television that Giffords would witness the launch of Endeavour, which is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Cape Canaveral. Kelly is the commander of the mission.
"I've met with her doctors, her neurosurgeon and they've given us permission to take her down to the launch," Kelly said.
Barack Obama and the first family are also scheduled to watch the launch, but it is unclear whether they will do so with Giffords.
Families view launches at Kennedy space centre from a restricted area, and there are no plans for Giffords to make a public appearance.
Giffords has not been seen publicly since the shooting and has spent the last three months relearning how to speak, walk and take care of herself. She has been singing – as part of musical therapy – asking for her favorite foods and receiving visits from family, friends, and her rabbi.
Kelly returned to training for the shuttle launch in February after taking time off to be at his wife's hospital bedside. Giffords went to Kelly's last launch, in 2008, when he commanded Discovery. The couple married in 2007.
Six people were killed and 13 injured in the shooting at a community outreach event in the car park of a Tucson shopping centre in January. Jared Lee Loughner, 22, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the attack.
