Mark Kelly

Born February 21, 1964 in Orange, New Jersey, but considers West Orange, New Jersey, to be his hometown. Married to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Tucson, Arizona. They have two children. He enjoys cycling, weight-lifting and golf. His parents, Richard and Patricia Kelly, reside in League City, Texas. Graduated from Mountain High School, West Orange, New Jersey, in 1982; received bachelor of science degrees in marine engineering and marine transportation (with highest honors) from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1986, and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1994. Selected by NASA in April 1996, Kelly reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. A veteran of three space flights, he served as pilot on STS-108 in 2001 and STS-121 in 2006, and was the Discovery’s Commander on STS-124 in 2008, and has logged 38 days in space. In 2006 he received his first U.S. Patent for an advanced oxygen mask for combat aircraft. Kelly is currently assigned to command the crew of STS-134 to the International Space Station. The mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector designed to examine fundamental issues about matter and the origin and structure of the universe.