Washington ( CNN ) -- Astronaut Mark Kelly said Friday his wife 's extraordinary medical progress since she was shot through the brain , coupled with support from family , friends and the public , were keys to his decision to command the upcoming flight of the space shuttle Endeavour . During a press conference with NASA officials -- who said they determined going with Kelly was the right decision -- the husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords described what he thought the realities would be after the January 8 shooting in Tucson , Arizona , and what he now expects . `` At that time , my thought was I 'd very likely would be sitting in the ICU seat , two , four or six months later , by her bedside , '' said Kelly , sporting a blue wristband that reads `` Peace , Love , Gabby . '' Now , he said , Giffords is making progress every day in speech , occupational and physical therapy . He expects her to witness Endeavour soaring into space on the current April 19 timetable . `` Absolutely . I have every intention for her to be at the launch , '' said Kelly . Command of the shuttle flight came under question after Giffords was shot . `` She would be very comfortable with the decision I made , '' Kelly said at a Friday afternoon press conference . Kelly spent the days after the shooting at his wife 's hospital bedside , and NASA had named a backup shuttle commander for the mission . `` We are very , very thankful of the progress Gabrielle has made over the past few weeks , '' said Brent Jett , chief of Flight Crew Operations Directorate at NASA . `` I know there are millions of people praying for her and I think that helps , '' Kelly told reporters . NASA officials said they spent much of this week observing Kelly doing a simulated week of training in Houston . They said they are confident he will be able to complete the training and not be distracted by his wife 's extensive rehab . The decision followed consultation with doctors and weighing the risks of putting Kelly back as commander . `` Space flight is a risky business , '' said Kelly . `` So is being a member of Congress . '' Kelly repeatedly declined to detail his wife 's progress , saying it leads to constant speculation on her prognosis , and he would not disclose how she was able to articulate her support for his resumption of training Monday . `` I know my wife very well , '' he said . `` I know what she would want . '' On Thursday , Kelly spoke at a National Day of Prayer event in Washington , his first trip away from Houston . `` We thought it would be a good chance for him to see what it would be like to be away from Gabrielle , '' Jett said . Giffords is being treated at the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research ( TIRR ) at Memorial Hermann in Houston . The six hours of therapy each day is keeping the congresswoman busy , Kelly said , and he has asked her mother to be his medical liaison while on training in Florida and during the two-week flight . `` I am looking forward to rejoining my ( fellow ) crew members and finishing our training for the mission , '' Kelly said in an earlier statement . `` We have been preparing for more than 18 months . ... I appreciate the confidence that my NASA management has in me and the rest of my space shuttle crew . '' Kelly said he will be able to communicate with Giffords during the mission by e-mail and telephone . He is hopeful she will be able to see him during a video conference during the trip . The astronaut added he is able to `` compartmentalize '' stress and will remain focused . In the end , the decision to put Kelly back on the team came down to what 's best for the flight , Jett said . `` It 's really as simple as that , '' he said . CNN 's Kevin Bohn and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
NEW : `` I have every intention for ( Giffords ) to be at the launch , '' said Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. Astronaut Mark Kelly will command Endeavour 's upcoming flight . Kelly 's shuttle mission is set to launch on April 19 . NASA named backup commander for Endeavour mission after Kelly 's wife was shot .