CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle commander Mark Kelly said Thursday he's still awaiting doctors' blessing to bring his wounded congresswoman wife to his launch in just under three weeks.
NASA, meanwhile, took stock of minor damage to Kelly's shuttle on the launch pad as severe thunderstorms swept through Kennedy Space Center. Lightning struck early Wednesday evening, and there were reports of hail. Wind gusts reached 90 mph (145 kph).
On Thursday morning, two funnel clouds were reported as the severe weather continued. Funnel clouds are rotating columns of wind coming off clouds; if they touch the ground, they form tornados.
Shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank sustained minor damage to some of its insulating foam, said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel. Launch pad workers were waiting for the latest storm to pass, before carrying out a full inspection. The space centre was under a tornado watch Thursday morning, and Kelly and his crew had to skip some of their practice countdown drills.
Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head 2 1/2 months ago in Tucson, Arizona, said he's still working out all the plans with NASA, in case his wife attends his launch. He's still debating what to do about the traditional prelaunch party for his guests.
Each shuttle crew member arranges a party for family and friends who descend on Cape Canaveral for the launch. The astronauts themselves are in quarantine and cannot attend; spouses stand in as hosts.
In Kelly's case, his identical twin astronaut brother, Scott, could fill in. Scott is just back from a five-month stay at the International Space Station.
"I've been asked that a number of times, and I've been pretty busy," Kelly said at a news conference.
Kelly told reporters he's "pretty hopeful" Giffords will make it to his April 19 liftoff. It will be Endeavour's final flight and the next-to-last shuttle mission, and will feature the delivery of a $2 billion physics experiment to the International Space Station.
Giffords is undergoing rehab at a Houston hospital.
All six astronauts assigned to the flight -- five American men and one Italian -- are space veterans.
