However the US space agency announced a backup commander just in case, and said he would begin training with the rest of the astronauts next week.

Kelly's status has been in doubt since his wife, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot point-blank in the head by a gunman who killed six others at a grocery store political meeting on Saturday.

"I recommended to my management that we take steps now to prepare to complete the mission in my absence, if necessary," Kelly said in a statement issued by NASA.

"I am very hopeful that I will be in a position to rejoin my STS-134 crew members to finish our training."

Astronaut Rick Sturckow will serve as a backup commander and will begin training next week with the rest of the crew, NASA said.

"Mark is still the commander of STS-134," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office.

"He is facing many uncertainties now as he supports Gabrielle, and our goal is to allow him to keep his undistracted attention on his family while allowing preparations for the mission to progress," she said.

"Designating a backup allows the crew and support team to continue training, and enables Mark to focus on his wife's care."

NASA also confirmed that the shuttle Discovery, which was to launch in November but was postponed due to leaks on its external fuel tank, will attempt take off at 4:50 pm (2150 GMT) on Thursday, February 24.

Endeavour is set for liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 19 at 7:48 pm (0048 GMT).

The last two launches officially scheduled for the year, which could be followed by one more shuttle mission if budgets allow, will mark the end of the US space shuttle program.

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