Mark Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Kelly
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Official portrait, 2021
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| United States Senator from Arizona |
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| Assumed office December 2, 2020 Serving with Ruben Gallego
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| Preceded by | Martha McSally |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mark Edward Kelly
February 21, 1964 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (before 2018) |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Scott Kelly (twin brother) |
| Education | United States Merchant Marine Academy (BS) Naval Postgraduate School (MS) |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1986–2011 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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54d 2h 4m |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Missions | STS-108 STS-121 STS-124 STS-134 |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | October 1, 2011 |
Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, retired astronaut, and former U.S. Navy officer. Since 2020, he has served as a United States senator from Arizona. A senator is a person elected to help make laws for the country. Kelly is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming a politician, Kelly had an exciting career. He was a naval pilot who flew combat missions in the Gulf War. In 1996, NASA selected him to be a Space Shuttle pilot. He flew to space four times, commanding two of his missions.
In 2011, his wife, then-U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, was seriously injured in a shooting. After this event, Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA to help with her recovery. He and Giffords later started an organization to promote gun safety.
In 2020, Kelly was elected to the U.S. Senate. He won reelection in 2022 for a full six-year term.
Early Life and Family
Mark Kelly was born in Orange, New Jersey. He has an identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, who also became an astronaut. Their parents, Richard and Patricia Kelly, were both police officers.
Mark grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from high school in 1982. He went on to study at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he earned a degree in marine engineering and nautical science. Later, he received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.
In 1987, Kelly became a naval aviator, which is a pilot for the Navy. He learned to fly the A-6E Intruder, a type of attack plane. He was stationed in Japan and served in the Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier USS Midway.
During the Gulf War, Kelly flew 39 combat missions. After the war, he attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and became a test pilot. As a pilot, he flew more than 50 different types of aircraft and made over 375 landings on aircraft carriers.
For his service, Kelly received many awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired from the Navy in 2011 to care for his wife, Gabby Giffords, after she was injured.
Career as a NASA Astronaut
In 1996, NASA selected both Mark and his twin brother Scott to be astronauts. This made them the only siblings to have both traveled to space. Mark flew four missions on the Space Shuttle.
First Mission: STS-108
Kelly's first spaceflight was in December 2001 as the pilot of Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-108. The crew visited the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver over three tons of supplies and to swap out the station's crew.
Kelly helped use the shuttle's robotic arm to move a large cargo module. The mission lasted nearly 12 days, during which he orbited the Earth 186 times.
Second Mission: STS-121
In July 2006, Kelly piloted Space Shuttle Discovery for STS-121. This was an important "Return to Flight" mission after the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The crew tested new safety features to make spaceflight safer.
The mission also delivered supplies and a new crew member to the ISS. During this flight, one of the wake-up songs for the crew was "Beautiful Day" by the band U2, which was chosen by his then-girlfriend, Gabby Giffords. The mission lasted almost 13 days.
Third Mission: STS-124
Kelly's first time as mission commander was on STS-124 in 2008. As commander, he was responsible for the entire mission and crew.
The crew of Discovery delivered the main part of the Kibo laboratory to the ISS. "Kibo" is Japanese for "hope." They also delivered a replacement part for the station's toilet. When Kelly entered the station, he joked to the crew, "You looking for a plumber?" The mission lasted nearly 14 days.
Final Mission: STS-134
Kelly's final mission was as commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-134 in May 2011. This was the last flight for Endeavour. The crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a special science instrument, to the ISS.
This mission took place just a few months after his wife was shot. Kelly decided to command the mission after seeing how well she was recovering. Giffords was able to travel to Florida to watch the launch. During the mission, Pope Benedict XVI called the astronauts in space, which was the first time a pope had ever done so.
Life After NASA
After retiring from NASA and the Navy in 2011, Kelly took on new roles.
Author and Speaker
Kelly has co-written several books. With his wife, he wrote Gabby: A Story of Courage, Love and Resilience, which tells the story of their life and her recovery. He also wrote a children's book series, starting with Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story.
Political Activism
In 2013, Kelly and Giffords started a group called Americans for Responsible Solutions (now part of an organization called Giffords). The group works to promote gun safety laws while supporting the Second Amendment. They believe in keeping guns away from people who might be dangerous.
Career in the U.S. Senate
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In 2019, Kelly announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Arizona. He won the election in November 2020, becoming the first Democrat to hold that specific Arizona Senate seat since 1962. He was sworn into office on December 2, 2020.
In 2022, Kelly was reelected for a full six-year term, defeating his opponent Blake Masters.
Work in the Senate
As a senator, Kelly works on several committees, including the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. These committees focus on issues like the military, national parks, and public safety.
He has worked with senators from both political parties on several laws. These laws have helped provide training for police, improve shipping, and support Native American tribes in Arizona with their water rights.
Political Views
Kelly is known as a moderate Democrat who supports working with both parties. He has voted with President Joe Biden's positions most of the time but has also disagreed with him on some issues, especially border security.
- Health Care: Kelly supports the Affordable Care Act and wants to add a public health insurance option.
- Gun Policy: After the shooting of his wife, Kelly became a strong supporter of gun control. He voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a law designed to improve gun safety.
- Environment: Kelly supports taking action on climate change. He has a high rating from the League of Conservation Voters.
Personal Life
Kelly was first married to Amelia Babis, and they have two daughters, Claudia and Claire. They divorced in 2004.
In 2007, he married Gabby Giffords, who was a U.S. Representative from Arizona. They met in 2003 during a trip to China.
2011 Tucson Shooting
On January 8, 2011, Giffords was shot and seriously injured at a public event in Tucson. Six other people were killed in the attack. This was a very difficult time for Kelly and his family. He flew to be by her side and stayed with her as she began a long recovery.
The event brought national attention to the couple. Kelly later said that the support and prayers from people across the country helped him and his wife get through the tragedy. He expressed hope that something positive could come from the event, such as a more civil and respectful political conversation in the country.
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | |||||||
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| Total | % | P. | Total | % | ±% | P. | |||||||
| 2020 | U.S. Senator | Democratic | 665,620 | 99.93% | 1st | 1,716,467 | 51.16% | +10.41% | 1st | Won | Gain | ||
| 2022 | Democratic | 589,400 | 100.0% | 1st | 1,322,027 | 51.39% | +0.22% | 1st | Won | Hold | |||
Images for kids
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Kelly with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chuck Schumer on October 15, 2023
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Kelly and homeland security secretary and former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano at the Tucson memorial service
