posted 06-21-2011 11:16 AM               

Astronaut Mark Kelly Announces Plans to Retire from NASA

NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly has announced his plans to retire from the agency on Oct. 1. He is a veteran of four space shuttle missions.

"We salute Commander Mark Kelly and his contributions to NASA as an extremely accomplished member of the astronaut corps and the final commander of the space shuttle Endeavour," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "We deeply respect his achievements and his decision to focus on his family. We continue to send out our thoughts and prayers to Mark and his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, as she makes a remarkable recovery. We know that Mark will continue to do great things for his country no matter what he chooses to do next. He has helped us build a space program poised to take advantage of the many opportunities in our bright future."

Kelly announced his retirement Tuesday on Facebook and via his Twitter account. On Facebook, he wrote, "This was not an easy decision. Public service has been more than a job for me and for my family." He added, "I know that as our space program evolves, there are those who will question NASA's future. I am not among them. There isn't a group more dedicated to its mission or more capable than the outstanding men and women of NASA."

Kelly commanded the STS-134 flight in May and STS-124 in 2008. He served as the pilot on STS-121 in 2006 and STS-108 in 2001. He joined NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1996.

Retirement from United States Navy and NASA

Today, I am humbled to announce that after 25 years of service to our country, I am retiring from the United States Navy and leaving NASA, effective Oct. 1.

Words cannot convey my deep gratitude for the opportunities I have been given to serve our great nation. From the day I entered the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the summer of 1982 to the moment I landed the Space Shuttle Endeavour three weeks ago, it has been my privilege to advance the ideals that define the United States of America.

This was not an easy decision. Public service has been more than a job for me and for my family. My brother continues to serve in NASA and in the Navy. My parents are retired police officers. And my wife Gabrielle proudly serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early in my career, I served in Operation Desert Storm, flying combat missions from the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Today, the men and women of the armed forces continue to serve in combat zones throughout the globe. There is no higher calling. These are the people who inspire me with their sacrifice and timeless sense of duty.

In 1996, I began a 15-year career at NASA that has taken me to the International Space Station four times aboard space shuttles Endeavour and Discovery. Recently, I was given the unique opportunity to be the final commander of Endeavour. I will be forever grateful to the NASA managers who trusted me with this enormous responsibility during such a difficult period in my personal life and to those leaders in the United States Navy who prepared me to handle these challenging times.

I know that as our space program evolves, there are those who will question NASA's future. I am not among them. There isn't a group more dedicated to its mission or more capable than the outstanding men and women of NASA. Exploration is a critical component of what makes our country great. We will continue to explore and NASA will continue to lead that effort.

As life takes unexpected turns we frequently come to a crossroads. I am at this point today. Gabrielle is working hard every day on her mission of recovery. I want to be by her side. Stepping aside from my work in the Navy and at NASA will allow me to be with her and with my two daughters. I love them all very much and there is no doubt that we will move forward together. After some time off, I will look at new opportunities and am hopeful that one day I will again serve our country.

posted 06-21-2011 11:20 AM               

Giffords is focused on getting better, Kelly said, and he'll handle the bulk of the book work, along with collaborating author Jeffrey Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal columnist who penned bestseller The Last Lecture and co-wrote pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's memoir. The book will be published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Giffords will be more involved as she improves, Kelly said...

In keeping with the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the couple will not receive advance pay for their book, said Robert Barnett, the couple's attorney, who also handles author representation for luminaries the likes of President Barack Obama, former president George W. Bush, Sen. Hillary Clinton and singer-actress Barbara Streisand. The book contract will be reviewed by the House Ethics Committee. Giffords and Kelly are permitted to receive royalties, Barnett said, and plan to donate a portion of their profits to Tucson and Arizona charities.

There isn't a timeline for the memoir because the couple's priority is to offer the "best book we possibly can," Kelly said. "It will focus on our lives together, and her rehab - which she is 100 percent focused on - and on our lives before we met."

Kelly said he isn't sure what his long-term future will hold.

"I really don't know," he said. "I've gotten a lot of advice from people to take some time and think about it."

He brushes off talk of entering politics himself.

"Gabby is the politician in our family. I'm the space guy," he said. "I really feel she's coming back strong. I tell her we will accept nothing less than 100 percent. She's very motivated, and we're all going to be very amazed by where she is in six months."

posted 06-21-2011 11:09 PM               

The first shuttle launch I attended was his second as pilot and part of the reason I did the STS-124 spoof patch (with the toilet roll replacing Kibo on it) was because I figured Mark would be a good sport about it and appreciate the laugh. Wish I had the opportunity to meet him to interview him for my book, but once the shooting took place, I knew the chances of that happening were going to be as remote as ever. Whatever new challenge life throws at Mark and Gabby, they will accept it and excel. Of that I am certain.

As for retirements, they take time. The paperwork has to be filed with two agencies (NASA and the Navy), and all sorts of behind the scenes stuff has to happen. The date might also be related to their hiring date as to qualify for the full 25 years of service benefits. Plus, when an astronaut announces their are leaving or retiring, they don't spend the next few months doing nothing. Mark is going to likely be busy with a lot of things as the duties he was assigned after STS-134 will likely be handed off to other people in his department. Then there are the arrangements that will need to be made at home. Will he move to Tuscon, will he stay in Houston? Will the house he has in Houston even sell in this current economy? All these things have to happen before the ceremony and the party.

posted 06-22-2011 07:48 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SpaceAngel:
Why retire on October 1st; why not now (i.e. today (figure of speech, by the way))?

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posted 07-28-2011 08:32 PM               

Keppler Speakers Exclusively Representing Astronaut Mark Kelly

Astronaut Mark Kelly will be accepting a limited number of speeches and personal appearances following his retirement from NASA and the US Navy. Kelly has signed a representation agreement with Keppler Speakers.

A veteran of the Gulf War and four space shuttle missions, Commander Kelly made history serving as commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight into space. He successfully led both Endeavour and Discovery, and with 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft, 39 combat missions, and more than 50 days in space, Mark Kelly is one of America's most experienced pilots.

Already a celebrated American, Mark Kelly became the center of international attention after the January assassination attempt on his wife, US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Kelly and Giffords are writing a memoir about their experience which will be published late this year.

Jim Keppler, president of Keppler Speakers, says, "The whole world has been captivated by the story of Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords. Mark's heroism at home, in space, and on the battlefield personify the leadership and strength that is needed in these challenging times." Mark Kelly says, "I look forward to sharing my story with audiences in a way that will allow healing and strength to emerge from a tragic event, and to remind everyone about the resiliency of the human spirit."

Keppler Speakers also represents such prominent public speakers as astronauts Jim Lovell and Eileen Collins, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., environmentalists Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Jean-Michel Cousteau, entertainer Garrison Keillor, political figures Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, and numerous others.

posted 10-06-2011 04:13 PM               

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Captain Mark Kelly speaks at his retirement ceremony with Vice President Joe Biden in the Secretary of War Suite in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 2011.

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Captain Mark Kelly hugs his wife Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after receiving the Legion of Merit from the Vice President.