Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly
United States Senator
from Arizona
Assumed office
December 2, 2020
Serving with Ruben Gallego
Preceded byMartha McSally
Personal details
Born
Mark Edward Kelly

(1964-02-21) February 21, 1964 (age 62)
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2018–present)
Independent (before 2018)
Spouse(s)
Amelia Babis
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 2004)​

​
(m. 2007)​
Children2
RelativesScott Kelly (twin brother)
EducationUnited States Merchant Marine Academy (BS)
Naval Postgraduate School (MS)
Space career
NASA Astronaut
Rank Captain, USN
Time in space
54d 02h 04min
SelectionNASA Astronaut Group 16, 1996
MissionsSTS-108, STS-121, STS-124, STS-134
Mission insignia
RetirementOctober 1, 2011
Websitemarkkelly.com

Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American astronaut, engineer, writer, U.S. Navy Captain, and politician. He is the senior United States Senator from Arizona since December 2, 2020. He is the husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Space missions

Kelly flew combat missions during the Gulf War. He was selected to become a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996 and flew his first mission in 2001 as pilot of STS-108. He piloted STS-121 in 2006 and commanded STS-124 in 2008 and STS-134 in 2011. STS-134 was his final mission and the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour.

U.S. Senate career

On February 12, 2019, Kelly launched his campaign for the 2020 Senate election in Arizona as a Democrat. He won the election in November 2020 defeating incumbent Republican Senator Martha McSally.

Personal life

His wife was the target of an attempted assassination in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011.

Kelly's identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, is also an astronaut. In 2015, Scott Kelly began a mission spending a year in space on the International Space Station. He returned to Earth on March 1, 2016, after 340 days in space.

Other websites

References

  1. ↑ Carney, Jordain (November 30, 2020). "Mark Kelly to be sworn in as senator on Wednesday". The Hill. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (March 4, 2019). "Mark Kelly is running as a Democrat for the Senate. In 2012, he voted in a GOP primary". The Arizona Republic.
  3. ↑ "Commander Mark Kelly Announces Retirement From NASA, Navy". Fox News. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. ↑ Sunseri, Gina (June 1, 2011). "Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands Safely in Florida". ABC News. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  5. ↑ "NASA astronaut Mark Kelly launches Senate campaign | CNN Politics". CNN. 12 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Tolson, Mike (January 17, 2011). "Their toughest mission yet, Shooting of Gabrielle Giffords thrusts her husband and brother-in-law, both astronauts, into an unfamiliar spotlight". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  7. ↑ "WebCite query result". www.webcitation.org. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  8. ↑ "Twin astronauts prep for year-long mission". Retrieved 2017-11-07.