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Shuttle Mission Sparks Public Opinion At Franklin Institute

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mark Kelly's decision to go into space is attracting a lot of comment. Kelly is the astronaut whose wife, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in the head last month.

NASA announced Kelly would command the space shuttle Endeavor in April and talk shows and web sites have been getting a steady stream of comment about it. But there's one place Kelly gets a lot of sympathy.

The Space Command exhibit at the Franklin Institute attracts people with an interest in cosmic exploration so they tended to understand the forces pulling Mark Kelly toward his shuttle mission.

(Woman 1): "I kind of agree with him that she would want him to continue his mission. I mean, it's not an opportunity that you're really going to get next week again."

(Woman 2): "He wants to go, I mean it's his last opportunity to go to space so he should go."

But some people had reservations.

(Husband): "I would lean toward people who would have responsibilities doing the flights in the first place because they are more dangerous than I think they generally accept."

Loeb: Now, if it were you, would you go?

(Husband): "No, and I don't even think my wife would let me do something so dangerous."

Loeb: Would you?

(Wife): "I don't think I'd want my husband to be in that situation regardless of whether I'd be hospitalized or not."

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio.

(Photo provided)

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